Despite defeat to Manchester City opening up an 11-point gap on the top four, Erik ten Hag is refusing to throw the towel in on Champions League football.
With 11 games to go, hopes of catching Aston Villa in fourth are fading fast, but the prospect of the Premier League’s top five landing Champions League football for next season remains a carrot for United to chase.
Right now fifth place is Tottenham, six points ahead of United having played one game less. The odds are not in United’s favour.
‘There are still many games to play. Everyone can beat everyone, so things can quickly turn around. We have to win our games. Number five can also be a position for the Champions League, so we have to fight for it.’
Erik ten Hag thinks Manchester United can still secure Champions League football this season
Defeat to Manchester City means that United are 11 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth place
The Dutchman is not giving up and with the eyes of new minority owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos glued to his results, it’s no great surprise he’s trying to maintain some optimism.
But how likely is it that United can overthrow one of Aston Villa or Tottenham, or both?
Mail Sport tries to predict Manchester United’s results through the final 11 Premier League matches…
EVERTON (H)
Saturday, March 9 – 12.30
If Erik ten Hag’s confidence in securing Champions League football for next season is actually genuine and not just blind faith, this has to be nothing other than three points.
United were heavily criticised for the meek second half fight they showed in defeat to Manchester City and having lost last time out at home to Fulham, a response is needed.
Alejandro Garnacho scored the Goal of the Season – the award was wrapped up that day – in the reverse game with a stupendous overhead kick, and given United’s struggles in attack since Rasmus Hojlund’s injury, more magic may be required here.
Everton are winless in their last five league matches and travel to Old Trafford without a win on the road since December 16.
PREDICTION: Win
Last time United played Everton, Alejandro Garnacho produced this emphatic overhead kick
SHEFFIELD UNITED (H)
TBC
Postponed as a result of United’s progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals, this remains a game that United simply have to win.
Sheffield United have been dreadfully poor this season and look doomed to make an immediate return to the Championship.
Man United made hard work of it up at Bramall Lane but at Old Trafford they simply cannot afford to give the Blades an inch.
Should have important pieces to their team back by the time this game comes round.
PREDICTION: Win
Chris Wilder’s return to Sheffield United has not brought results and they are set for relegation
BRENTFORD (A)
Saturday, March 30 – 20.00
A late night trip to Brentford to close out March has all the hallmarks of a banana skin in waiting for Ten Hag and his players.
United won 3-1 on their first visit here in the Premier League in January 2022, only to be hammered at the start of last season 4-0 in an embarrassing afternoon for United.
Brentford have undoubtedly struggled this season, not least with star man Ivan Toney out for the first half of the season due to a betting ban.
The Bees haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 matches at home in the league, and were beaten heavily by Liverpool and Man City in west London.
But their spirit in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea is more like what United will expect in front of the TV cameras. Expect a battle under the lights.
PREDICTION: Draw
Brentford struggle for clean sheets but have enough spirit to squeeze a draw from United
CHELSEA (A)
Thursday, April 4 – 20.15
Having kept just two clean sheets from their last 12 matches in all competitions, United should feel pretty confident that they can go to Stamford Bridge and find the back of the net.
Chelsea wasted some glorious opportunities at Old Trafford and eventually paid the price in a 2-1 defeat after Scott McTominay’s brace.
A match-up of 4-2-3-1 systems, United’s ability on the counter attack with Hojlund-Garnacho-Rashford in full flight leans this one towards an away win.
And if they have doubts, just look at the blueprint Wolves laid out with their 4-2 win there only recently…
PREDICTION: Win
LIVERPOOL (H)
Sunday, April 7 – 15.30
This will hurt United fans but with the title race so tight between three teams, this one only looks like ending one way.
It would be no surprise to see United actually get the better of Liverpool in the FA Cup and then the Merseysiders getting their revenge in the league.
As optimistic as Ten Hag is about Champions League football, they won’t go the remainder of the season unbeaten and Liverpool’s quality should see them bring United back down to work after beating Chelsea a few days earlier.
PREDICTION: Lose
United gave up possession to dig in for a draw at Anfield but won’t get that luxury at home
BOURNEMOUTH (A)
Sunday, April 14 – 16.30
This one could be brought forward a day if Aston Villa get past Ajax in the Europa Conference League – and it will be far from easy on the south coast.
Andoni Iraola’s side produced an emphatic 3-0 win at Old Trafford earlier in the season and United will no doubt be highly motivated to avenge for that walloping.
Bournemouth have the 17th best home record in the league and have looked much more at home when on their travels, something United will be well aware of.
Expect another close affair with a narrow United win.
PREDICTION: Win
NEWCASTLE (H)
Saturday, April 20 – 15.00* (*dependent on FA Cup progress)
This one will be rearranged if either side progress to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Newcastle have been hampered by injury, much like Man United, this season and haven’t been the force they were a season ago.
Nonetheless, they remain a tough out for teams and have beaten Erik ten Hag’s charges twice already in this campaign.
United should have enough about them to prevent a third shut-out – but a draw feels more likely than a win given the 0-4 aggregate in Newcastle’s favour so far this season in this fixture.
PREDICTION: Draw
Anthony Gordon and Newcastle turned United over when the sides met back at St James’ Park
BURNLEY (H)
Saturday, April 27 – 15.00
Burnley only look to be heading in one direction and it isn’t up.
Mired in a relegation battle, Vincent Kompany’s side should be handled with some ease if United are serious about ending the season with Champions League football to their name.
United squeezed out a narrow win at Turf Moor earlier in the season thanks to a fabulous volley from Bruno Fernandes.
With Burnley winning only two of their 13 away games at the time of writing, surely even United can’t fluff their lines in this one?
PREDICTION: Win
Burnley look to be heading straight back to the Championship following a miserable campaign
CRYSTAL PALACE (A)
Saturday, May 4 – 15.00
Having failed to win any of their previous three trips to Selhurst Park, there is enough evidence to suggest it is a sticky spot for United.
Palace did a job on United up at Old Trafford earlier this season in the league and with Oliver Glasner now in charge, this will again be a tough trip to south London.
United are admirers of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze and if those two are fit to play United will have their hands full.
This will be crunch time if they are still in the hunt for fourth or fifth and yet a draw feels the safest bet.
PREDICTION: Draw
Oliver Glasner is determined to improve Crystal Palace’s fortunes after taking over mid-season
ARSENAL (H)
Saturday, May 11 – 15.00
It feels like a case of picking your poison for United watching this title race unfold.
Liverpool winning it is a fan’s worst case scenario, followed by City, and then Arsenal. But United fans loathe the idea that the Gunners arrive at Old Trafford as champions and get a guard of honour.
Nonetheless, if it remains nip-and-tuck in the title race United could walk straight into the storm with this free-scoring Arsenal side.
United actually played well at the Emirates Stadium before a late collapse but the circumstances are different now and these are two teams with very different momentums right now.
If Arsenal have learned from last season they’ll be able to walk out of Old Trafford with three points.
PREDICTION: Lose
Arsenal want to dethrone Man City as champions and they will win at Old Trafford if serious
BRIGHTON (A)
Sunday, May 19 – 16.00
Four defeats in their last five games against Brighton makes this a potential nightmarish fixture to end the season on.
That one win came in an FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout at Wembley and so this has been a fixture Brighton have dominated in recent times.
Roberto De Zerbi is viewed as one of the contenders to replace Ten Hag should Ineos move him on and here is another audition – if one is even required.
At Old Trafford in the reverse game Brighton made an in-game tactical switch and it completely flummoxed United.
With the sun out and the season drawing to a close, expect a draw in this one with both sides not having a great deal to play for.
PREDICTION: Draw
POINTS: 19/33
FINAL TALLY: 63 points
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