Good afternoon! Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will be speaking to the media shortly as his side face Preston North End for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Monday.

There's already some team news out, as Van Gaal has told the club's TV channel that Phil Jones and Daley Blind's availability is not yet clear, but Michael Carrick has had a setback, so will miss out.

Here's some of the squad in training for Monday's match yesterday:

Watch a training clip as #mufc get ready for next week's FA Cup clash with Preston... https://t.co/klSRkEK3nj — Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 12, 2015

Wednesday's win over Burnley has moved the side back up to third in the table, and leaves them with just one defeat in their last 18 matches in all competitions.

With Blind a doubt for United, it seems likely than Wayne Rooney will continue his new midfield role. England boss Roy Hodgson was asked if he would play the captain there recently, but insists that he'll keep using Rooney as a striker.

The manager is ready to speak, so let's see what Van Gaal has to say this afternoon...

It's another injury blow for United to start with as Van Gaal reveals that Robin Van Persie also has a knock, and is doubtful for Monday's match.

Expanding on the injury situation, Van Gaal says: "I think [Phil] Jones shall be difficult to play on Monday. [Daley] Blind, I don't know, we have to wait and see how he recovers. Robin van Persie also has something, so now I have given the players a day off. Only the injured players have visited our centre, but the doctor has not called me yet so I cannot say anything."

Former United star Paul Scholes recently criticised the team's playing style, but Van Gaal insists: "I don't worry about it, it's not so interesting, I think, because he is one of the fans, I hope, and fans can criticise. That's what I have to say about that. I am used to it and I think all the players are used to it because they are not first-time professional football players. Maybe some players are not affected, most of the time it does not affect me or the players."

On his side's performance against Burnley, the manager says: "I was not down about the second half, I have given my opinion and am always honest. When it is bad, it is bad and when it is good, it is good. I think in the second half we were the better team and created chances and overall we have created more chances than Burnley."

It's not all positive from that match though, as he adds: "When you look at the statistics that I am looking, for our process, then I am disappointed that we play in that way. Next match we can show that we are still in our process and positive, when you see that it's not bad, I think."

For the third time in a cup competition this season, Van Gaal faces a League One side, but he's relishing the task: "It's fantastic. I have already described, we have to play for the third time a lower team. You know the world is against you, the environment is against you because everyone is with the underdog. You have confirmed it, but you are conscious to do that so it is more difficult to accept but it's like that, but the chance that you can survive is higher because you are playing against lower qualities."

Van Gaal is asked about his side's formation, and admits that he's still looking for the right balance: "I have played now already five or six systems and I am looking still for the balance. This system is more balanced than normally and I can play with more attacking players. In spite of the fact that we are looking for the balance, our results are not bad and our defensive organisation is not bad, we also score a lot of goals. So, I cannot say that I am very disappointed about that."

Van Gaal admits that his side are always practising spot kicks: "I decide. I have secrets and we practise them every week. It's good because set plays are important."

That's it from Van Gaal this afternoon, so join us again on Monday evening to see whether United can make it to the last eight in the FA Cup. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye!