Southampton boss Ronald Koeman says his relationship with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is no longer so bitter.

The Saints boss coached alongside his compatriot at Barcelona in the late nineties, but their relationship took a well-documented downward turn when they worked together at Ajax.

That ill-feeling has now largely dissipated, although Koeman is desperate to get the better of his former mentor this weekend.

"It's nice [to beat him] because he is a very good coach," he said, having lost 2-1 to United last month.

"We had some problems in the past, but we shake hands and I hope he will do it on a good way with Man United and, of course, it's special to beat him, but I lost the last time."

Van Gaal's side head into Sunday's match in third - a point and a place better than surprise package Southampton.

That is the least United should be doing, in Koeman's opinion, given their vast resources and outlay.

"They have great players," he said. "It is normal that they will fight for titles, I think.

"They have to, they have to. How you can spend that money, how you can sign that kind of players and not be fighting to win titles?"

"Everything up to Man United. They have a very successful coach, they have great players, they have money, they have got great public [support], great stadium. It is normal that you win titles."