Louis van Gaal says Manchester United have been 'the best team in the league' over the last 20 matches... he's wrong

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Louis van Gaal claimed this afternoon that Manchester United have been the best team in the land since their disappointing start to the campaign.

But the Dutch coach, whose team face a trip to Swansea, the side that shocked him in his first match in the Premier League would be wrong.

"We came from the [pre-season tour in the] United States where we had won everything, so that was a big shock (to lose against Swansea)," Van Gaal said at his press conference.

"After that we lost a lot of points even though we were the better team, because we couldn't score enough at that time.

"I think that the confidence at this moment is the same as (after the tour). When you see the scores of the last 19 or 20 matches we are the best team in the league, so that is why I think confidence is also high like it was at the beginning."

However, the United boss is wrong, whether you look at matches in the Premier League or in the last 20 in all competitions.

United have been much improved, losing just two of their last 20 to pick up 42 points from a possible 60. But they are below Chelsea and Manchester City in the form table over the last 20 matches (below, via Tom Rostance).

If that is expanded to include games in all competitions - United have only played two non-Premier League games, both in the FA Cup - then they are again performing well, winning 13, drawing five and losing two of their last 20, but Arsenal are slightly better, with 14 wins a draw and five defeats.

Arsenal picked up crucial wins against Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray to set up next week's last-16 clash with Monaco.

If those tallies were in a league format it'd give United a point more than Arsenal, but the Gunners have played in five knockout matches in the FA Cup and Champions League, winning all of them. Those fixtures mean Arsene Wenger's team have had about a week less rest compared to Van Gaal's.

Despite United's decent record, they have lost just once in the last 19, it has not saved the Dutchman from criticisms. Fans at Old Trafford were heard whistling and jeering during the unconvincing win over Burnley last week, while they had to come from behind against League One Preston on Monday to reach the quarter-final of the FA Cup.

Van Gaal admitted he is looking for improvement before the end of the season.

"I am never 100 per cent happy," the 63-year-old said. "We can play better but the main thing is to win your match, not to lose.

"We have shown this year a lot of times team spirit and that is very attractive for the fans but also for the coach, because then you can see a player wants to follow you."

Van Gaal has spent over £150million trying to improve his team's performances since the start of the season, and the club are willing to back him in the transfer market this summer too.

The United boss has been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, including Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker, Kevin Strootman and Mats Hummels. However, the United boss declined an invitation to comment on how many changes he thinks he needs to make to his squad in the summer.

"You will have to see and wait," the Dutchman said.

Additional reporting by PA