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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal shunted the spotlight away from his own future by claiming that it is more important for the club to win a trophy as they need silverware.The Dutchman is preparing his players for Saturday's FA Cup final at Crystal Palace at Wembley, which is a venue that he described as "the most prestigious temple of England."
Having missed out on a top-four finish in the Premier League on goal difference earlier in the week, he is under pressure to deliver silverware, which would end United's three-year wait for a trophy.
Speaking at his news conference on Thursday, Van Gaal warned that Palace will pose a threat from set pieces. That comment might have encouraged midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who will hope to return to the starting line-up, having completed his suspension in time.
Van Gaal said: "I think the interests of the club are much more important, and the interest of the fans is more important, than those of the manager.
"Of course, you have your own aims and that's one of the aims I have had always, so it's always exciting when you are so close, but close is not enough. You have to win it. A club like Manchester United needs silverware."
"When you win silverware, it's important for the players, because a qualification is not a title. A title is the FA Cup or championship, because they can look and hold the trophy, so that's an exciting moment also. We are playing in the most prestigious temple in England.
"Fellaini is not suspended. But you have to wait and see the line-up. If I say something about that, then [Palace manager] Alan Pardew knows the line-up. They have scored 29 of 56 goals out of set plays. It's a lot more than us."
Louis van Gaal can end Man United's three-year wait for a trophy on Saturday.Van Gaal has faced criticism for his style this season but he admitted that he would settle for grinding out a narrow win again on Saturday. He made reference to Liverpool's Europa League final defeat against Sevilla on Wednesday to highlight the futility of progressing to the last stage, then losing.
The United manager said: "Close is not enough you have to win it. Now, we can win something. You cannot predict a final, you have seen it yesterday, for example.
"Our starting point is to win well and score beautiful goals but, if we win 1-0, that is also enough. Winning is the most important thing in a final, otherwise you have nothing."
He said that he would not shy away from using youngsters again, explaining: "We need matches of this level because it's an education for the young players. You have to cope with that pressure. It is a step in their development."
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