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Erik ten Hag: 'There is huge pressure on many clubs in top-four race'

Ten Hag: 'There is huge pressure on many clubs in top-four race'
© Reuters
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag opens up on the battle to secure a top-four spot in this season's Premier League.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that there is huge pressure on "the seven or eight clubs" battling to finish in the top four in the Premier League this season.

The Red Devils are preparing to resume their league campaign on December 27, with Nottingham Forest making the trip to Old Trafford.

Man United are currently fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with a game in hand on Antonio Conte's side.

Ten Hag believes that his side will have "a good chance of getting into the top four" providing that they continue on the right path.

"We are aware. The competition is tough, but I think it counts for all of the seven or eight clubs who are competing for the top four," Ten Hag told reporters.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured on October 19, 2022© Reuters

"For those who follow the Premier League, it is great because it is exciting and you have to battle for everyone to get those points.

"What I am looking at is the process and how we are performing, we have to get the results and then also we have to make the right progress, and then we have a good chance of getting into the top four."

Ten Hag also said that he 'understands' why being Man United head coach brings added pressure.

"I get it and I understand it. This is also the same for the manager of Chelsea and for Newcastle United. At all of those clubs, they invest a lot in their clubs, there is a big pressure at all of those clubs because they all want to get into the top four. We want to fight for those [other] trophies and that is clear," he added.

The Dutchman, meanwhile, has opened up on the difficulties that come with preparing to resume a league season following the World Cup.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on August 7, 2022© Reuters

"It is. When we had a plan on how to do it, how to manage the load of the players, it is all individual based and we have to manage the load of the players. No-one is the same and no has the same programme or the same minutes, they are all playing in different positions and they are all at different ages," he said.

"We are really trying to cater for everyone's plans but we know the restart is five or six days after a World Cup final. We all know that after a World Cup, the Premier League continues quickly and everyone has to be ready for that.

"You have to accept it for the managers, the coaching staff and also the players. They have to accept it and they want trophies, so we want to have a strong team to battle for the trophies.

"We have just spoken about the competition for that and be ready for it but it is not easy, nothing in top-level football is easy. We have to do it smartly, that is clear and hopefully we get the right results and the right performance."

Man United have won eight, drawn two and lost four of their 14 Premier League matches this season, and they recorded a 2-1 victory over Fulham in their last league game before the season was halted.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal15131136122440
2Manchester CityMan City15112243152835
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1696132112133
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs1693433231030
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd159242320329
6Liverpool1574431181325
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton157352620624
8Chelsea157351917224
9Fulham166462726122
10Brentford164842527-220
11Crystal Palace155461521-619
12Aston Villa165381725-818
13Leicester CityLeicester165292528-317
14Bournemouth164481834-1616
15Leeds UnitedLeeds154382329-615
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham1642101320-714
17Everton163581219-714
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves163491025-1513
19Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest163491133-2213
20Southampton1633101430-1612

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