Ronald Koeman: Manchester United can challenge for title this season

Ronald Koeman has laughed off Louis van Gaal's suggestion that it could take three years to get Manchester United back to their best, as the Southampton manager believes his old foe has the players to challenge for the title this season.

Charged with bringing back success after David Moyes' dismal reign, the vastly-experienced Dutchman fared no better early in his time on the throne as United made their worst start since 1986.

It led Van Gaal to admit it would take three years to get the club back to their rightful place, despite forking out in excess of 150 million pounds on just six players.

Things have improved dramatically since those comments in November, and United are up to third, albeit 12 points shy of leaders Chelsea heading into the weekend.

That is a margin Koeman, who takes Southampton to Old Trafford on Sunday, believes should be smaller given the quality at United's disposal.

"It's up to him -- if he needs two years more, give him two years more," he said.

"Of course maybe he is doing different [than] other managers but I don't believe that you need two years or one year.

"No -- it's all about qualities of the players and they have to do that. And the better the players, the easier it is for the manager."

Asked if United should be closer to Chelsea and Manchester City given the money that has been spent, Koeman said: "In [terms of] individual quality of the players, yes."

Ronald Koeman isn't buying Louis van Gaal's claim that he needs three years to get United back to their best.

The adaptation process was highlighted by Van Gaal when predicting a three-year transition, although Koeman has had no problems settling into a new league and integrating acquisitions.

Many predicted relegation for Saints this season given their talent drain over the summer, yet Koeman has transformed them into a side challenging for European football.

The Dutchman is confident Southampton can better last year's eighth-place finish thanks to the ease of moving from club management on the continent to the Premier League.

"It's an easy answer as a manager to say 'I need time,'" he said. "You don't have time in football.

"But my job as a manager is not so different to what I did in the last three years in Feyenoord -- it is managing a football club, managing a football team.

"Okay, new players. I have better players than I had in the last three seasons. It has to be easier, that adaptation. It's about the quality of the players."

The quality inherent in United's squad was clear last month as, despite an underwhelming performance in which they managed just two shots on target, they won 2-1 at St Mary's.

Koeman believes Van Gaal's side are even stronger now and has been impressed by the work done by his compatriot, a man with whom he had a high-profile falling out during their time at Ajax.

Asked whether he or the United boss would be more satisfied with the season thus far, he said: "I think both because we are doing a great job that people didn't expect.

"Man United had a difficult start and have gone eight or nine times unbeaten, look more sure about everything. I think he is happy as well at the moment."

Koeman can welcome back Jack and Nathaniel Clyne at Old Trafford, where Eljero Elia, recently signed on loan from Werder Bremen, could make his debut.

The Saints boss is not expecting many more players to follow the Dutch winger in, nor anyone to leave St Mary's.

"I feel comfortable because we don't need to sell players and January is a very bad moment to sell players," Koeman said.

"At the end of the season, okay, everybody has his ambition. That's normal but during the season to have players on loan, okay, that's part of football.

"But to sell or to buy players I think that's not good."