Manchester United great Roy Keane has warned Erik ten Hag that he must not 'settle' for top-four during his first season at the Old Trafford helm. United continue to impress during their summer preparations after clocking up a third straight victory on Tuesday.
After beating Liverpool in stylish fashion, Ten Hag and his squad took their pre-season roadshow from Bangkok to Australia — where they have now overcome Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace. Goals from Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho did the damage in a 3-1 win over Palace.
Players will have plenty to prove when the main business gets under way next month, especially after United's dismal season last time which failed to result in Champions League qualification. United also went trophyless for the fifth straight campaign.
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Ten Hag was brought from Ajax to recapture former glories at Old Trafford and the Dutchman has signed Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez as part of his rebuild. Other targets are on the radar and Ten Hag continues to stamp his crest on United with a possession-based playing style.
But what can the Old Trafford giants achieve under the 52-year-old during his first season?
Speaking to SkyBet, pundit and former United skipper Keane said: "I don't think that should be your mindset going into a season that you'd settle for fourth. You're obviously going to do as well as you can and you're competing to get into the Champions League; for financial reasons, the brand, the club, the top players want to play in that.
"But you shouldn't be ruling out that you can still win a cup competition, [it was a] disastrous season and you'd like to think there will be some improvement, but I wouldn't just sit there — as poor as they are and go; 'I'd settle for top four'. I wouldn't."
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