Erik ten Hag has warned his Manchester United players there can be no let-up in their pursuit of a Champions League place.
United are currently third in the Premier League table and have a seven-point advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham. An immediate return to the Champions League looks likely for United, but Ten Hag has told his players they cannot afford to think it is a formality.
United flew back after Thursday’s epic 2-2 Europa League play-off draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp, to prepare for Sunday’s visit of Leicester to Old Trafford. With the Foxes having hammered Spurs 4-1 last weekend, Ten Hag has called for a laser-like focus and commitment from his United players as they maintain their push to secure a top-four finish.
“We are in the right direction, but we have to fight for it,” said Ten Hag, when asked if he felt United were ready to return to the Champions League.
“That is two ways - one is via the Europa League the other is through the Premier League. So we know what we have to do. We have to see it game by game and fight to get back into the Champions League.”
United are only five points behind leaders Manchester City, but Ten Hag played down talk of a title tilt in his first season, despite there still being 15 games left to play.
“We don’t think about that so far,” said Ten Hag. “What we have to do is to put us, in April, in the right position, so our thinking can only be on the next game. We always have to be better than the previous game and think about it game by game - that is where our energy and focus is.
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“It means that we have to win on Sunday and we have to collect the three points against Leicester and that demands a lot of energy and it demands high standards.”
With United fighting on four fronts, their fixture schedule is relentless, with games every three or four days, but Ten Hag said the players are relishing the challenge.
“We have already been in this rhythm for many weeks and so our players are doing really well in their sleep, their recovery, their food and they will be ready for Sunday, definitely,” said Ten Hag.
“The players in our squad like it. They like to play big games and they know also, as a team and individuals, that you grow from such games.
“Today we are better players, a better team, so that will help us in our process. We are going in the right direction, so we have to keep this process going.
“We will analyse again, we will criticise, see what went good, what went wrong, and move on. Sunday is the next game, the next big game.”
United are in the middle of a potential takeover, with interested parties having formalised their interest in buying the club by Friday's ‘soft’ deadline.
Ten Hag said: “We are following it. It’s our club, but we are focusing on football, on training and our way of play, and games, we are focusing on that.
“We are enjoying our togetherness at the moment. It’s really enjoyable to work and we’re focusing on games and we are in four competitions. Others in the club will have to make decisions and give efforts in the process, as it’s not up to us.”
Asked if he had spoke to current owners the Glazers about the potential sale, Ten Hag said: “From the start, yes. They informed me how the process will go. I focus on football, they are focusing on other parts, other departments of the club and how to get everything financed.”
