Louis van Gaal is not giving up hope of Manchester United gaining a top-four spot despite the 3-0 defeat by Tottenham Louis van Gaal is not giving up hope of Manchester United gaining a top-four spot despite the 3-0 defeat by Tottenham

Louis van Gaal has apologised to Tottenham for not becoming their manager and claimed Manchester United will always be a bigger club, despite watching his side lose 3-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Spurs kept their Premier League title hopes alive as a seven-minute treble from Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela stunned United and reduced the gap behind Leicester back to seven points.

Tottenham's progress under Mauricio Pochettino has been one of the stories of the season but it could easily have been Van Gaal sitting in the home dugout, given the Dutchman was chairman Daniel Levy's first choice to take over in the summer of 2014.

United players look dejected as Spurs shocked them with three quick-fire goals

Asked if he regretted his decision to overlook the job in north London, Van Gaal said: "In the balance, we are still ahead. The challenge is always bigger in a bigger club.

"I like also to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. Daniel Levy knows that. But the challenge was bigger at Manchester United and shall always be bigger.

"I am sorry for Tottenham but Manchester United will always be the bigger club. I think it is a little bit pathetic that you ask that because they have won 3-0. It is easy to ask that but it is okay, you enjoy yourself."

Jamie Carragher said Manchester United have gone backwards under Van Gaal Jamie Carragher said Manchester United have gone backwards under Van Gaal

Van Gaal is not giving up hope of Manchester United gaining a top-four spot despite dropping four points behind Manchester City in the race for the Champions League.

United's defeat on Super Sunday means that time is ticking on their hopes of another top-four finish under the Dutchman, with six games remaining.

He told Sky Sports: "No [I'm not giving up hope], every team can lose from everybody, so still we are in the race.

"But of course when you lose a game you have to close the gap again, and that's more difficult.

"I don't think [the manner of defeat mattered]. I think that Tottenham is a great team, and I said also that before the match.

"Until the first goal I think we were a good team who were playing good, in Tottenham, and also had a big chance for a goal, so you cannot say that the way we have lost is a big negative result. But the way we have played until the first goal was good."

Manchester United had the better of the early stages, but quick-fire goals put the game well beyond the visitors.

Van Gaal said the game could have had a different outcome if a first-half chance for Anthony Martial was converted, but rued what he described as "miscommunication" for Alli's opener as United were stretched in defence.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino hailed a perfect performance by his players Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino hailed a perfect performance by his players

"I think until the first goal you are at least an equal team. I think the better chance was for us with Martial, big space and big time for him.

"I think we give the goal away with miscommunication, and within five minutes we were out of the game."