Luke Shaw admits he risks being branded “stupid” for believing Manchester United can land the Champions League this season.
The United full back conceded that doubters will line up in their thousands to rubbish his claims given their inconsistent season to date.
But he insisted that with the array of talent at Ralf Rangnick’s disposal the Old Trafford outfit can go all the way to St Petersburg in May and land the European showpiece.
United face Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie next week.
“This is the crunch time of the season and it is very important in the league to get some momentum,” said Shaw. “As a team we believe we can win the Champions League.
“Not many people on the outside will think it and some will think I’m stupid for saying that but we have that belief and confidence that we can win it.
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“I’m sure everyone in this dressing room – the players the staff and the management – all have that belief that we can. Now we need to pick some momentum up, get results and keep playing well.”
With the Premier League title out of reach and the FA Cup having already slipped through their fingers, the Champions League represents United’s only chance of silverware after four seasons without a trophy.
And while the odds may be stacked against them they did at least end a sequence of draws with victory against Brighton on Tuesday.
Inconsistency has dogged Ralf Rangnick’s time at the club. After back to back wins in his first two games, the interim boss had to wait until games 10 and 11 in early February for his next.
But Shaw called on his teammates to back-up that 2-0 win over Brighton, secured thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, in what will be a hostile atmosphere at Elland Road against Leeds on Sunday.
David De Gea, who has been United’s standout player so far this season, welcomed the victory but he echoed Shaw’s demands that they grab another win at the weekend in order to take that momentum to Spain next week.
“Hopefully the game against Brighton may give us more confidence, more good feelings,” he said.
“We have a big game on Sunday against Leeds away – a very difficult game and I think we have to be focused on that game.”
United could face a Football Association charge after their players surrounded referee Peter Bankes ahead of Brighton defender Lewis Dunk’s dismissal in the game at Old Trafford.
Bankes initially booked Dunk after he had pulled down Anthony Elanga but United stars reacted furiously, mobbing Bankes - refereeing only his eighth Premier League game of the season - and delaying the free-kick.
The protests against Bankes’ decision were led by captain Harry Maguire and Fernandes, who was booked for the ferocity of his complaints.
Eventually, the VAR, Aussie ref Jarred Gillett, told Bankes to go and look at the pitch side monitor and, inevitably, the referee upgraded the card to a red.
