Louis van Gaal was spreading a message of joy and pride to the rank and file at Old Trafford after Manchester United climbed to the top of the table on Saturday.

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Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham left the door open for United and they did not pass the opportunity to leapfrog their local rivals. United ran out 3-0 winners over Sunderland thanks to goals from Memphis Depay, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata.

It was the first time United had topped the table under Van Gaal and he made sure he was not the only one with a beaming smile as he left Old Trafford on Saturday night.

“I am proud, of course,” the United manager said. “I said to the security guy: ‘You are now a security guy of a club that top of the league’ and that makes a huge difference. Also for him. He is proud and I am proud.

“Last week it was the first time I was second. He was smiling.”

Once Depay had broken Sunderland’s admirable resistance in the fourth minute of first-half injury time, United looked certain to grab all three points.

Just 38 seconds after the restart, Rooney bundled in his first Premier League goal in 999 minutes and Mata converted Ashley Young’s cross in the dying stages to round off the win.

United travel to Arsenal on Sunday and after the international break they face tough tests against Everton and City. But Van Gaal does not think October will define whether his team are genuine title challengers.

“I know exactly where I stand,” he said. “We have a good team but we can win and lose. You need luck but the balance of the team is better than last season. I don’t have to wait until October. We shall improve every week, yes.”

For the first time since he moved to United, Anthony Martial failed to score in a league game, but the No. 9 did set up Rooney. The United captain had some strong words of praise for the £36 million (Dh201m) Frenchman.

“He’s been incredible,” Rooney said. “He’ll be a big player for us throughout the season and in the future, but we need to let him enjoy his football, and I’m sure he’ll bring magic moments for us.”