A year ago
Erik ten Hag issues blunt Liverpool response after Man Utd moves within one point of Champions League qualification
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Ajax, responded to Manchester United's Champions League qualification with a win over Bournemouth. Despite Liverpool's unfavorable result on the same day, Ten Hag expressed that he doesn't care about their outcome. Manchester United's victory put them within one point of securing a top-four finish and Champions League football.
Although United faced a tough challenge against Bournemouth, they managed to secure a crucial win with an early goal from Casemiro. Despite their dominance in the game, United failed to find a second goal due to the resilient defense of Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Liverpool could only secure a draw against Aston Villa, needing a late goal from Roberto Firmino to salvage a point. This result means that Manchester United only need a point from their remaining two games to secure their place in the top four. As it stands, Ten Hag's team is three points ahead of Liverpool, who have only one game left, but United holds an inferior goal difference.
When asked about the win over Bournemouth and Manchester United's progress towards the Champions League, Ten Hag mentioned that the only criticism was their failure to score a second goal. He praised Casemiro's great goal and the team's defensive performance, highlighting the importance of their collective defending. Ten Hag made it clear that he is solely focused on his own team and doesn't care about what happens with Liverpool. He emphasized the importance of Ajax doing their job.
Once Manchester United secures the final point needed, they can shift their focus to the FA Cup final against Manchester City. They also have the opportunity to finish third by overtaking Newcastle United. However, it is worth noting that finishing third holds a monetary value for United and ensures they will be seeded above Arsenal and Newcastle United in the Champions League group stage draw due to their higher coefficient ranking.
In the upcoming match against Bournemouth, Scott McTominay, who has traveled with the squad, is expected to be in contention for a starting position. Meanwhile, Marcel Sabitzer, a midfielder for Manchester United, has suffered a meniscal injury that will rule him out for the remainder of the season. The club expressed disappointment at losing Sabitzer's services but acknowledged his contribution to their progress so far in the Premier League and FA Cup.
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