article_snippet.sent: The United players had just returned from a disappointing 1-0 defeat by Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday, while the City men were still on a high following a comfortable victory over West Ham.
article_snippet.sent: United boss Louis van Gaal (right) gestures towards the referee during the Premier League clash .
article_snippet.sent: The west London club managed to defeat United with just 29 per cent possession in a game which Van Gaal claimed had been Van Gaal 's best performance this season. '
article_snippet.sent: I am very proud of my team,' Van Gaal told BBC Sport. '
article_snippet.sent: BBC Sport played BBC Sport best match of the season but in football you can lose a match even when you are my team.'
article_snippet.sent: Manuel Pellegrini's side, meanwhile, strolled to victory against West Ham thanks to goals an own goal from James Collins and Sergio Aguero's 20th Premier League strike of the season.
article_snippet.sent: Sergio Aguero slotted City into a two goal lead after a flowing counter attack against West Ham .
article_snippet.sent: victory against West Ham meant City closed the gap on rivals
article_snippet.sent: United to just one point as the Etihad side look to remain in the top four after the Etihad side aspirations of retaining the Premier League title slipped away.
article_snippet.sent: Defeats in six of the previous eight games had left the champions' title defence in tatters and even put the champions' top-four place in jeopardy.
article_snippet.sent: Pellegrini, whose position is also under heavy scrutiny, said after the game: 'It was important to be a consistent team and we played - especially for the first 65 minutes until the injury of David that was a distraction - as a consistent team. '