Erik ten Hag remains confident Manchester United will seal a top-four finish despite a painful last-minute defeat at Brighton. Alexis Mac Allister's penalty in the 99th minute on Thursday night kept Newcastle United third in the table, and means the Red Devils could be just one point clear of fifth-placed Liverpool by the time they face West Ham in the capital on Sunday night.
Manchester United along with the Magpies both hold a game in hand of Jurgen Klopp's side, who will be looking to close the gap further when they host Brentford on Saturday evening. Newcastle could also add to the pressure by establishing a five-point cushion over ten Hag's side by beating Arsenal in the top-of-the-table clash at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon.
Ten Hag insists it is 'vital' for a club of the stature of Manchester United to be in the Champions League, adding his players will 'give everything' to book their place in the competition next season. The Red Devils boss has been heartened by his team's response to setbacks this term, and reckons they can do so once more when they face the Hammers this weekend.
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Ten Hag said: "We have every time in this season when we had a defeat, we bounce back. So, I count on my players, I count on my team. We have to do it again.
"There is no time to stay in this (disappointment), so in one hour we go onto the game against West Ham United. All focus on that. We prepare for them, we make a good plan, the players have to take responsibility and they will do. I count on them.
"They have to do it and they can do it because we have the evidence in the season. Every time when we had disappointments, they bounce back."
Pushed on the top four race, the Red Devils boss added: "We had a quite good run from the last five - four wins and a draw (before Brighton). We have everything in our hands, so we have to focus on our performance. I trust my players, so I am quite convinced about that."
