Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag believes Champions League qualification is again on however not getting forward of himself | Soccer Information

Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United are again within the race for Champions League soccer, however it’s too early to say his facet have turned a nook.

United claimed a late 2-1 win over Aston Villa final Sunday, their first away victory towards a top-six facet beneath Ten Hag, to make it three Premier League wins in a row and transfer inside six factors of fourth.

A beneficial run of fixtures for United, which begins at Luton on Sunday – reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League – presents Ten Hag’s facet with the possibility to make floor on their rivals after a depressing begin to the season.

Sunday 18th February 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

“I believe it is too fast to say we have turned a nook,” says Ten Hag, whose staff are unbeaten after six video games in 2024.

“We’re not there but. We’re again within the race however this membership at least wish to be within the high 4, at least. However I really feel we’re now on the right track.”

Accidents have ravaged Ten Hag’s squad this season however the returns of Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire have lifted United because the new yr.

Dropping Lisandro Martinez for one more lengthy spell has been a uncommon piece of dangerous information in an in any other case promising interval for United.

“I used to be satisfied that when the gamers had been accessible on this squad, we had the standard to play within the first 4,” added Ten Hag. “I used to be satisfied throughout the entire season, however now we’ve got to show it on the pitch.”

Ten Hag says United’s limitations in the summertime switch market have slowed down their path to difficult for the Premier League title.

United spent £183.5m, the fifth most amongst Premier League golf equipment, as they tried to construct on a promising first season for Ten Hag which noticed them end third within the league and win the Carabao Cup.

England’s Harry Kane, a long-term goal at Outdated Trafford, was accessible however United didn’t enter the race as a result of value of the deal for the 30-year-old, preferring the £72m Rasmus Hojlund, 21, from Atalanta.

Requested how lengthy it can take to develop into a title contender, Ten Hag mentioned: “It is tough. In the summertime, we had been in an excellent momentum.

“We gained a remaining, we had been in one other and we completed third. We determined to herald younger gamers for the long run as this needed to do with FFP. We made that selection but it surely means it takes longer to get into the highest positions of the Premier League.”

Keane And Neville unconvinced by Man Utd

Gary Neville says Manchester United are “nonetheless not nice” regardless of persevering with their successful run at Aston Villa, whereas Roy Keane says Ten Hag’s facet have “obtained away with it” of their current outcomes.

“They will claw it again,” mentioned Neville about United’s Champions League ambitions. “They have been appalling within the first half of the season. They’ve misplaced so many matches it is unfaithful.

“In the event that they hold their gamers match they’ve an opportunity. Due to course they’re higher after they have their power of their staff. All groups are after they have their gamers again.

“The entrance three look extra settled with [Marcus] Rashford, [Alejandro] Garnacho and [Rasmus] Hojlund with Bruno Fernandes in behind.

“They’re higher than they had been however they’re nonetheless not nice. They concede so many probabilities, they do not actually have any patterns, they do not management video games or hold possession higher than the opposite groups. However they do have gamers who can win matches.

“They’re an odd bunch, I’ve mentioned that for a couple of years, they play in moments throughout matches.”

Keane says Tottenham and Villa will probably be “getting anxious” about United choosing up outcomes, however provides that Ten Hag’s forwards are getting their defenders “out of jail”.

“United nonetheless gave up a great deal of probabilities, the issues are nonetheless there for them,” Keane mentioned after the Villa sport. “They obtained away with it immediately, as a result of the attacking gamers are scoring targets.

“However there isn’t any shock the quantity of probabilities they offer up, they do it each week. They have away with it in three or 4 weeks. Their attacking gamers are getting them out of jail.

“The important thing for me is the attacking gamers are scoring targets. And what they have, which Villa do not is that momentum.

“For those who’re within the Spurs and Villa dressing room and also you see Man Utd arising behind you, you are going to be anxious. Historical past will play a component, they have the targets.”

Man Utd’s squad ranks as costliest ever

Manchester United had the costliest soccer squad ever assembled final season, in accordance with a brand new UEFA report.

The findings reveal Erik ten Hag’s squad price a staggering £1.2bn in switch charges final time period, when this facet secured a third-place end within the Premier League, gained the Carabao Cup and completed runners-up within the FA Cup.

The record-breaking determine consists of large charges splashed out on Antony (£86m), Harry Maguire (£80m), Jadon Sancho (£73m) and Casemiro (£70m) – however excludes a number of costly acquisitions signed final summer season, who arrived after the 2022/23 monetary yr.

European and home champions Manchester Metropolis sit second within the rankings with a squad price of £1.1bn, adopted by Chelsea (£927.2m, *2021/22 monetary yr), Actual Madrid (£881.9m) and Paris Saint-Germain (£802.4m).

When it comes to Chelsea, that complete is more likely to explode for 2022/23 given the Blues have spent £1bn on new signings because it was calculated, having undertaken a record-breaking switch splurge after Todd Boehly purchased the membership.