We have to believe - LVG

Cape Town - Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is confident his side will progress to the Europa League quarter-finals, despite a 2-0 first-leg loss to Liverpool.

United are faced with the task of overturning a two-goal deficit when the side meet for the return leg at Old Trafford next week.

Van Gaal concedes the Red Devils failed to cope with the pressure from the Liverpool throughout the match, saying they were playing catch up for most of the match.

However, the former Barcelona coach remains positive that they could overturn the score and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

"We did not cope with the high pressure of Liverpool," Van Gaal said in his post-match press conference.

"The pressure is not from the crowd. We had expected that and, for me, it was a surprise we did not cope with it because they did it at their home match this year.

"That raised the atmosphere in the stadium and they created big chances but we had a very good goalkeeper and because of that, we were in the match."

"We have to believe," he added. "We can also create an atmosphere like Liverpool did tonight, so everything is possible.

"[The result] is disappointing, I cannot deny that. I don't think we were in the third and fourth phase very creative, but that's also down to the defence of Liverpool. You can give them credit for that. We have to improve a lot to score more goals."