Louis van Gaal said that is is a great time to be a Manchester United supporter after they crushed Manchester City 4-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday. United moved four points clear of their cross-city rivals in third place in the Premier League and now look set for a return to the Champions League. Van Gaal''s side had looked out of position all season with a string of unconvincing displays, but in recent weeks they have blown away Tottenham, Liverpool and now Manchester City. Louis van Gaal thanked Manchester United supporters for their patience after Sunday's derby win . United thrashed Manchester City 4-2 at Old Trafford to move four points clear of them in third place . The Dutch manager thanked supporters for their patience when results were going against the team at the start of the season. He said: 'I was very pleased because the fans are pleased and we are playing for them. The fans have not always had a good time because it started very bad. 'But still they were supporting, and now the results are coming back. It's great to be a supporter of Manchester United right now. 'We are four points ahead of the fourth place in the table and I am very happy for the fans because I have seen what it meant to them when the results were not so good.' The Dutch manager said that it is a great time to be a Manchester United supporter right now . Van Gaal was looking forward to toasting the biggest victory of his United career at his favourite Chinese restaurant in Manchester. 'I can go to Mr Wing's (restaurant) tonight, because you can do that when you win,' Van Gaal said. 'When you lose, the fans say what is Mr Louis doing because he loses and goes out to the best restaurant. This afternoon is maybe the best feeling (since coming to United). 'It was not the best performance, because we started very badly, but we regained our confidence, scored the goals and the second half was fantastic. 'At the start of the season it was not fantastic to be a United man and the fans still have supported us. Marouane Fellaini heads Manchester United in front during the first half having initially trailed . 'This week they can go on the streets, heads up and say: 'We are the better team because goal average (over the two derbies) is in our favour'.' Van Gaal called the victory a 'fantastic result' but criticised himself for leaving his side with 10 men following Michael Carrick's late injury. 'It is a fantastic result and I must bring Carrick off the pitch at 4-1 because he was injured. 'It was a little bit stupid of me because I want to give all my players minutes who are working very hard. 'Some of my players did not know we had 10 men because the crowd was yelling. 'Wayne (Rooney) did know because he was the holding midfielder as did Ashley Young, but the rest was difficult.' Van Gaal's side have now won their last four league matches - against Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City - since being knocked out of the FA Cup to Arsenal and a top-four spot and Champions League qualification now looks within their grasp. Michael Carrick hobbles off late in the game on Sunday at Old Trafford after picking up an injury . 'We have made big steps in the last six games but the defeat to Arsenal was very difficult for my team to stand up and maintain our confidence in the philosophy,' Van Gaal said. 'But all credit to the players because they have to do it under the expectation of the fans. 'We started very badly and we were not the Manchester United we have seen in the last matches. 'I don't know why we were nervous but we could not get pressure on the ball in the beginning, but then we scored and from that moment there was more confidence in my team. 'We started to develop our pace and game plan and the second half was much better than the first half, and until the moment Michael goes off the pitch we were fantastic.' Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini fended off questions about his own future after an eighth defeat for his team in all competitions since the turn of the year. Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini fended off questions about his future at the Etihad . 'I don't think what happens to me is the most important thing,' Pellegrini said. 'I will continue working and try to be as near as the top of the table as we can. 'We played very well for the first 20 minutes and had two or three more clear chances to score, but the moment they scored they grew and started playing better and we made mistakes for two of their goals. 'Maybe the third goal was offside and something similar happened in the last game but I'm not talking about referees.'
Manchester United beat Manchester City 4-2 at Old Trafford.
Louis van Gaal thanks United fans for their patience.
United now four points ahead of City in third place in Premier League.
Van Gaal endured tough start to the season with a loss at home to Swansea on the opening day and a 4-0 defeat by MK Dons.