Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United have struck a massive psychological blow to neighbours City ahead of next week’s crucial derby.

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A 3-1 success over Aston Villa on Saturday made it an impressive five league wins on the trot and took them above their rivals for the first time this season, a point clear and up to third place.

City visit Crystal Palace tonight, but Van Gaal believes United’s fine form will put Manuel Pellegrini’s men under pressure and have them worried – just as it will lift his own side for the final seven games.

“Of course, it plays a part in the spirit of the players, of your opponents also, but also our players,” he said. “We have more confidence now and if they lose a point against – I believe Crystal Palace – then it’s also sitting in the minds.

“But we have a lot of confidence – and we haven’t lost so many times at home.

“They still have one match to go, so it’s not so relevant [to be above them now]. It’s relevant after Monday night. When they lose points, when it is a draw then we are even I think and they have a better goal average so they have to lose, then we are better than Manchester City. But still the next game is the decisive game.”

That will be on Sunday at Old Trafford and United have lost the last four derbies with City, including November’s meeting at the Etihad when Chris Smalling was sent off in a 1-0 defeat. But Van Gaal warned: “It was another Manchester United I believe. Now we have developed. That was more in the start of the process and now we are in the end of the process.

“So I think also the confidence of our players is very high at the moment but also our performances shows that. So it’s not the same Manchester United.”

United’s transformation has seen them look a strong unit again with record signing Angel Di Maria and striker Radamel Falcao on the bench. Van Gaal says they have to be patient for their chance, just like Ander Herrera and Juan Mata had to – and have now taken it. 

Herrera and Mata have been superb in United’s last three matches, scoring four goals between them.

“I have to decide and that’s not always easy – and especially when you have very talented players,” he added. “But you have to show it in the match and when it is not like that then I change and I think that’s a not a bad habit of a manager. And now we are winning five games in a row so everybody has to wait for the right moment.”