Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is adamant that the Premier League title race is not over despite his side’s 1-0 defeat at leaders Chelsea on Saturday evening.

The Red Devils went into the game at Stamford Bridge eight points adrift of Jose Mourinho’s men and knowing a seventh successive league victory was required to give them a realistic hope of overhauling the Blues.

However, despite Van Gaal’s men enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the game, Eden Hazard’s first half strike was enough to hand Chelsea a victory which stretches their lead over second-placed Arsenal to 10 points, while they are 11 clear of United.

The Blues have six games remaining and know wins against Arsenal and Leicester in their next two will ensure they win their first Premier League title in five years.

However, Van Gaal, who was delighted with his side and felt it was their best performance of the season, insists that they can still come out on top by winning their final five matches of the season.

He said: “It is not definitely gone because we can still win 15 points and they can still lose 18 points.
“The main goal is that we are progressing as a team and we have done that today.

“We were the dominant team on the pitch but we lost. In football, the result is everything.

“We also need results in football. It is not always the best team that wins.”

United are 51.00 to win the Premier League title this season, while Chelsea can now be backed at 1.01.