Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said his side had achieved their ‘main objective’ of this season with Champions League qualification after the Red Devils beat Chelsea 4-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
United sealed a top-four spot in their penultimate tie of the season after Casemiro opened proceedings from a freekick in just the sixth minute.
Goals followed from Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes from the spot, and Marcus Rashford, and while Joao Felix pulled one back for Chelsea with a composed and classy strike that beat David De Gea, the Blues failed to put a glove on the home side.
Ten Hag’s side’s European hopes have been threatened in recent weeks by Liverpool’s last-gasp push, but after being held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Aston Villa, United’s win saw them off their former rivals .
With the Carabao Cup in hand and the FA Cup final still to be played, Ten Hag said the victory represented the pinnacle of their season.
Ten Hag say Champions League qualification is United’s ‘main objective’ this season
The former Ajax manager can still finish third in the table on the final day of the season
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Ten Hag said: ‘This club belongs in the Champions League. It’s not easy in the Premier League so many are competing for that. It’s huge when you do it.’
He later shared that his own ‘high expectations’ have been met by his players, who could finish third on the final day of the season.
‘I always have high expectations of myself and I think this club belongs in the Champions League, so you have to qualify in the first four,’ reflects Ten Hag.
‘But this league is very strong, and there are many teams, many clubs, competing for the position and they can all do it because they have high budgets, good teams.
‘We see Chelsea, they have a huge, great team with outstanding players.
‘So, we are happy that we are in the first four. I think we played a good season in the Premier League. I would say, a very good season.’
Ten Hag agreed with legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s belief that finishing in the top four equates to winning a trophy, adding: ‘Oh, I think in the Premier League, yes, it’s a something like that.
‘That is, I think, the main goal of the season, to get into the Champions League.
‘So, therefore you have to see yourself in the top four and, as I just tried to respond, the competition is tough.
‘It’s a lot of teams with really good squads, good managers, so when you’re there you do a good job and your team plays well and performs well.
‘I think this is for the moment the maximum, but we want more.’
A night without dark clouds: after being carried off the pitch on a stretcher in apparent pain, a question mark remains over whether Ten Hag can call on his winger Antony when the side face Manchester City at Wembley .
The Dutch manager – who worked with the player at Ajax before luring him to Old Trafford last summer – has only confirmed it is a ‘serious’ injury.
United’s loss of a player who has been crucial to Ten Hag’s campaign may have turned the manager’s attention to the upcoming transfer window.
While the question of who will own United during the window is still shrouded in uncertainty, Ten Hag has made it clear that he will not struggle to push through the transfers he believes are vital to building on this season’s success. .
‘You have to see how you get out of the transfer window,’ added Ten Hag.
Antony suffered a painful injury on Thursday and the club will have to wait to see if it ends his season early.
Mason Mount (left) and Declan Rice are two of United’s top transfer targets during the window
‘But if I see now I think we need more, so I don’t have much patience. And that was one of my mistakes.’
Mail Sport revealed yesterday that the club have entered the race for West Ham captain Declan Rice as they look to strengthen their midfield.
United are also considered a frontrunner to sign Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who is yet to reach an agreement with his club on a long-promised new contract.
Liverpool and Arsenal are also closely monitoring the discussions.
