Erik ten Hag has told Manchester United's top-four rivals they are under just as much pressure to secure a Champions League place.
Ten Hag's United are fifth going into the Christmas fixture programme, three points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, albeit with a game in hand. The United boss acknowledged there is pressure on him to make an immediate return to the Champions League, but he said the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea are also subject to the same expectation, given what they have spent.
“I accept how it is, I accept that pressure,” said Ten Hag. “But also for the manager of Chelsea, of Newcastle United, those clubs who have invested a lot in their squad. It’s big pressure for all of us to get into the top four. We want to be in the top four and fighting for trophies. That’s our aim.
“We're aware the competition is tough, but that also counts for the seven or eight clubs fighting for the top four. For anyone watching the Premier League, it's great for them, it’s very exciting for them. I'm looking at a process of how we are performing. Of course, we have to get the results as well, but the process is right, we're making progress and I think we have a good opportunity and a good chance to make that top four.”
Ten Hag's players slotted straight back into domestic action after the World Cup with Thursday's 2-0 EFL Cup fourth round win over Burnley at Old Trafford. The United boss fielded five World Cup stars in his starting line-up and will be able to call on more for Tuesday's Premier League encounter at home to Nottingham Forest.
Each United player who featured in Qatar has an individual programme tailored to their return, with Ten Hag confident there will not be a hangover from the World Cup. “We have a plan,” said Ten Hag. “It’s all individual-based. No one is the same or has the same programme or minutes. It depends on the positions and the age of the players.
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“We all know the restart was five or six days after the World Cup final. Everyone has to be ready and accept it. The manager and coaching staff, of course, but also the players – they have to accept it. They want trophies. We spoke about the tough competition and we have to be ready for it and deal with it, do it smart and hopefully get the right performance and results.”
Ten Hag is unsure if his first-choice centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, both of whom were involved in the World Cup final, will be back to face Forest. “I don’t know, I can't answer,” said Ten Hag. “Lisandro is still celebrating in Argentina. I can understand that it’s very emotional.
“Winning the World Cup for your country is the highest you can be, but also he has to accept that on December 27, the Premier League comes back. Varane, of course, is disappointed, but he can also be proud of being in the final and all that he has achieved in his career already is massive. To win so many trophies, he can still be proud. Getting to the final is a massive achievement. His nation were so close.”
