A return to the Champions League was extensively thought to be the minimal requirement in Erik ten Hag’s first yr answerable for Manchester United.
He will safe that if his crew can choose up one level from its closing two video games of the season, each at residence, towards Chelsea on Thursday and Fulham on Sunday.
Having received to this stage, it will take a outstanding collapse to overlook out on a spot within the high 4 now and hand the ultimate Champions League qualifying place to archrival Liverpool.
It is a prospect United followers dare not ponder and one Ten Hag is just not contemplating.
“We want to win the game, play dominant football and get the job done,” the Dutch supervisor stated Wednesday.
A return to European soccer’s elite competitors is important in Ten Hag’s mission to revive United to its former glories.
Having been a Champions League mainstay beneath former supervisor Alex Ferguson, the membership has repeatedly did not qualify for it because the Scottish nice’s retirement 10 years in the past.
United completed sixth final season, the fifth time over the previous decade it has fallen exterior of the highest 4.
Ten Hag’s first job was to reinstate the 20-time league champions amongst English soccer’s elite and a spot within the high 4 will probably be affirmation of that.
Qualification to the Champions League won’t solely be good for United’s fame around the globe as one among soccer’s hottest golf equipment but in addition deliver it much-needed income from prize cash and business offers.
In prize cash alone, it’s estimated it will value United round $48 million if it missed out once more.
For Ten Hag, additional income ought to assist to fund his recruitment plans, with a prolific striker his precedence.
The skill to supply Champions League soccer to potential targets must also strengthen United’s hand in switch negotiations.
Harry Kane, for example, won’t be taking part in in subsequent season’s competitors if he stays at Tottenham.
Reaching the Champions League can be proof that United is transferring in the fitting route and Ten Hag’s affect is being felt.
United was in disarray when he was employed final yr. It fired membership icon Ole Gunnar Solskjaer halfway by way of the season and changed him with interim supervisor Ralf Rangnick, who additionally failed to show its fortunes round.
Ten Hag has already lifted his first trophy by successful the League Cup and has additionally superior to the ultimate of the FA Cup towards Manchester City on June 3.
But securing a spot within the Champions League might in the end decide the success of the season.
“We want to compete with the best and be in the Champions League,” Ten Hag stated. “In the Premier League, it’s a must to be one of many first 4. That’s not simple, many are competing for it, many suppose they need to (be in it).
“We are in a project. We want to go back and win trophies. We win one trophy, but we want more trophies, (to) compete with the best. We are still in a journey but we think we are in the right direction. It can always be better because good is not good enough.”
United’s opponent on Thursday would fortunately take simply “good” after a shambolic season has left Chelsea within the backside half of the desk. Mauricio Pochettino is anticipated to be appointed its subsequent supervisor and interim coach Frank Lampard hopes the membership can quiet down subsequent season.
“It’s hard in the modern world because everything’s very reactionary,” Lampard stated. “If you want to go in a certain direction and you don’t get any joy for a while, people react to that. For Chelsea it has to be a longer picture than that to get us a bit more of a process. People have to stick with that along the way.”
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