Van Gaal relishing make-or-break run-in

Bayern, still top of the Bundesliga table despite their shock 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, are playing second-placed Schalke 04 on Wednesday in the German Cup semi-finals before facing in-form VfB Stuttgart in the league.

They then meet Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-final first leg before playing Schalke again in the league, the second leg in Manchester and third-placed Bayer Leverkusen.

"This is the best that can happen to us, the best for any player and it is also wonderful for a coach," the Dutchman told reporters.

"Either we get gladiolas or we will be dead," Van Gaal said.

"We are top of the Bundesliga, we are in the German Cup semi-finals, we are in the Champions League quarter-finals, who else in Europe can boast of such a record?," he said.

Van Gaal said his team were still favourites to win the league title. "We know we can stomach a defeat because the others cannot deal with the pressure," he said, after both Leverkusen and Schalke failed to win and go top over the weekend. "We have seen how difficult it is to go top of the table.

"I think for Bayern the championship title is the biggest goal but every player wants to win the German Cup and the Champions League. As for me I want to win all three titles," he said.

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