#INSERT type:image caption:Van Gaal praised the United fans after his side's late leveller. END#
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal said he believed his side should have beaten Chelsea at Old Trafford after Robin van Persie secured a 1-1 draw with an injury-time goal.
Van Persie could have put the home side in front before the break but was denied by Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Didier Drogba then steered the Premier League leaders ahead when he headed home a corner early in the second half.
But after Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic was sent off for a second bookable offence, United salvaged a point right at the end when Van Persie lashed home after a Marouane Fellaini header was saved.
"I've said to the players we could have won -- but we didn't, and that's our fault," Van Gaal said. "When you can do that against the best team in this league at the moment, that is a good sign.
"I'm not pleased, because I still have the feeling we could have won today and that we don't take our opportunities at the moment.
"They scored in the second half, and then we had to fight until the last minute. I am grateful for the support of the fans, as they also admire the spirit in this team.
"The red card doesn't change anything as it was the last minute and we only had the free-kick to take. OK, it [the goal] came from the free-kick, but only if he [Ivanovic] was marking Fellaini. You will have to ask Jose Mourinho about that."
Van Gaal said United had fashioned "a lot of chances but didn't finish those chances," adding: "Then Chelsea get the first goal and it becomes much more difficult as they play possession football, make the pitch big and we have to run and run.
"But we kept together and I think we deserved it. I have seen that we could have won -- I'm saying that nearly every game -- but this is Chelsea, who are a top team, and we were at least equal.
"The most pleasing thing is we are showing again we are believing in making a goal in spite of the result being bad. At 1-0 behind, it is fantastic that the players are running until the 90th minute to equalise or win."