Louis van Gaal shared his views on the European Super League on Friday

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is opposed to any notion of a European Super League of elite clubs, and believes that even the current Champions League should still be restricted to national champions.

United were one of the five clubs believed to have discussed the Super League proposals this week after executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was pictured meeting with his counterparts from Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool at a London hotel.

But Van Gaal would prefer to go the other way and revert to the old European Cup format whereby only teams who win their national championship are eligible for the competition.

Louis van Gaal has made his views clear on the European Super League and the Champions League

The Manchester United manager laughs during his pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday

Even though United qualified for this season’s Champions League by finishing fourth – and may have to do so again after slipping to fifth – Van Gaal said: ‘Everybody knows when you follow my career that I am against the Super League and something like that.

‘Sport is to be the best. When the Champions League was existing I said it was rubbish because the first and second and third and fourth team played. The competition should be between champions, in my opinion. I said it 20 years ago and I say it now.

‘It is only commercial thinking. When you are thinking like a commercial dealer then of course you are right, but sport is to win not to be second or third.’

United have revived their hopes of a top-four finish by going level on points with fourth-placed City, and also have the possibility of qualifying for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.

Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman at Manchester United, was at a meeting between the top five Premier League clubs to discuss the International Champions Cup and potential changes to European football

Van Gaal says United's aim is reaching the top four in the league while also winning the Europa League

Van Gaal added: ‘It’s still our aim, but our aim is also to win a title and a title is winning the Europa League

‘Manchester United haven’t won the Europa League so it would be fantastic for the club and for the fans. A title is always more than fourth position.

‘But the Champions League is our aim and that is why the Europa League and fourth in the table are important.

‘Of course when you see that we close the gap a little bit then your belief shall rise. I am talking to my players about first believing in it. I believe it in t but the players have to believe in that and they now understand that you can believe in it.

But first we have to beat West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, and it shall not be easy.’