Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United and Liverpool have no divine right to play in the Champions League every season and says their dominance was 'in another time.'
The two old rivals go head-to-head at Anfield at the last-16 of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, with Van Gaal chasing his fifth consecutive win over the Merseyside club.
But when asked if the fact this tie is taking place in the Europa League despite the two clubs having eight European Cup titles between them proved their demise, Van Gaal suggested we had entered a new era.
The United boss said: 'Other teams are playing in the Champions League. You are talking about Manchester United and Liverpool, we are happy to play in the Europa League.
'But Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are still playing in the Champions League. So six clubs are in Europe (also including Tottenham in the Europa League) and you have to be proud of that.
'But in football it is normal. It is not normal that one team dominates for 20 years in a row as the champion.'
When it was pointed out that United did dominate English football for the best part of two decades under Sir Alex Ferguson, Van Gaal added: 'It was another time, you live in the past. You have to live in the present I think.'
Van Gaal is all smiles after United's 1-0 win at Anfield, United's fourth consecutive success under him
He added: ‘When you play in the Europa League it is more likely to play against other league clubs, that is why the Europa League exists. Now we play against the same team we normally do in the league. It is a signal that the Premier League is strong.
‘You have noticed that against FC Midtjylland there were 58,000, so the fans of Manchester United are appreciating (the Europa League). I think against Liverpool there will be 75,000 (at Old Trafford). Liverpool also is sold out. It is very important for both teams.
‘Liverpool against Manchester United is always a big game. Traditional. It is a big game for both sides.’
United started the season in the Champions League but failed to advance from a group that contained Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow.
Daley Blind celebrates with Bastian Schweinsteiger after opening the scoring in September's 3-1 win
They then trailed Danish side Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 tie before winning 5-1 in the return at Old Trafford to set up their appetising clash with Liverpool.
Van Gaal acknowledged that this match means everything to United fans but said Liverpool are not 'the enemy' and beating them would be the same as beating West Brom.
United lost 1-0 to the Baggies on Sunday, ending their four-match winning run.
Asked about his perceptions of the rivalry, Van Gaal said: 'I think football in England is very deep in the life of the people. Of course I have noticed that also in Spain and in Germany, but not as deep as here.
'It's fantastic to see that, it was one aspect why I wanted to come here, to have that experience. But it is also sometimes what I can see too much.
'But I like to see because you can see the heart of the club and the feeling they are with you every game. That is nice for the players I think and also nice for the manager.'
Van Gaal arrives at United's Carrington training base ahead of his pre-Liverpool press conference
Following an appeal to UEFA, United have been granted permission to train and stay in Manchester in the build-up to Thursday's first leg.
UEFA regulations stipulate that teams must stay within 27 miles of the stadium where the match will be played and usually teams train there on the eve of the game.
But despite Manchester being 34 miles away from Liverpool, United will train at their Carrington base and then travel over.
With Jesse Lingard suspended for the first leg, Van Gaal must decide whether to play Marcus Rashford again after the young striker followed up his stunning start in the first-team with two more subdued performances against Watford and West Brom.
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