Ten Hag: 'Man Utd have a great chance to enter the Top 4'

After a six-week break to give way to the 2022 World Cup, the Premier League returns to round 17 when Man Utd takes on Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in the middle of next week. "The Premier League returns so quickly that the team members need to adapt immediately, from the coaching staff to the players," Ten Hag said in a press conference before the round.

Of Europe's top five leagues, the Premier League returns the earliest, just eight days after the World Cup final. A few days earlier, English clubs had to play in the fourth round of the League Cup, when Man Utd beat Burnley to enter the quarter-finals. This is their best chance to end a five-year streak without a title. "We want to win the title this season," added the Dutchman. "But Man Utd need a strong squad, know how to adapt and play smart to achieve the goal."

Ten Hag also believes in the possibility that Man Utd can enter the Top 4 in the Premier League this season. They are in fifth, with three points less than fourth place Tottenham, but also playing one game less than this opponent. "There are seven or eight teams competing for the Top 4 and this goal will be difficult," said the 52-year-old coach. "But if we go in the right direction, we have a great chance of doing this."

Newcastle are surprising when ranked third in the Premier League, one point more than Tottenham. Man Utd coach also said that this is an unpleasant opponent in the race to the Top 4, besides Chelsea, because "these two teams have invested a lot in the squad".

Man Utd no longer has superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, when the two sides agreed to terminate the contract at the end of November 2022. The "Red Devils" are targeting striker Cody Gakpo from PSV, after the player scored three goals at the 2022 World Cup. When asked about Gakpo, Ten Hag laughed but refused to say specifically.