MANCHESTER -- Louis van Gaal advised supporters to bet on Manchester United winning the FA Cup as he set his sights on maintaining his remarkable record of winning silverware in his first season at every major club.
United beat Cambridge 3-0 to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they will travel to Preston North End, and Van Gaal accepts they are favourites to win the competition.
Van Gaal's side are third in the Premier League and with the top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, having been eliminated, he admits the pressure is on his side to taste glory at Wembley in May.
He said in a news conference: "We have a real chance now. Why? We are the highest qualified team in the FA Cup so our status is the highest."
Regulations prevent players and managers from wagering and Van Gaal said he is not a gambler but encouraged others to back United to win the FA Cup for the first time in 11 years.
"People are maybe betting on us," he added. "I am not allowed to and I am not a casino man but I give you a tip. Of course I think the highest qualified teams have more possibilities to win than lower qualified teams."
United are currently 5/2 to win the FA Cup at Bet365, just slightly behind Arsenal, who are the trophy favourites at 12/5.
Van Gaal won trophies in his debut year in charge of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and, with United 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, admits they are unlikely to win the Premier League.
"For me, personally, I won always a title in my first year everywhere where I worked so the chance I win a title is bigger in FA Cup than the Premier League," he said, before joking about United's success in the pre-season International Champions Cup. "I have won already a title in the USA, you know that."
Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and substitute James Wilson scored for United and while Van Gaal felt the performance was not perfect, he was delighted with the outcome.
"I am very pleased because [we won] 3-0 and [kept a] clean sheet and [reached the] next round. Of course we could have played better."
Robin van Persie was withdrawn in the second half but Van Gaal confirmed his top scorer is not injured and will start at Upton Park on Sunday.
He explained: "I said [to him] at half-time: 'I shall change you at 60-70 minutes because I want you to play against West Ham and it is difficult to play three matches in a week.'"