ERIK TEN HAG warned his troops that sealing a Champions League spot is VITAL for his summer transfer plans.
Manchester United are still favourites to claim a top-four finish despite Thursday’s last-gasp defeat at the Amex.
Alexis Mac Allister’s ice-cool 99th-minute penalty sealed Brighton’s 1-0 win but fourth-placed United still have a four-point lead over Liverpool with a game in hand.
But that gap could be trimmed on Saturday night to just a point if Jurgen Klopp’s side — on a five-match winning run — beat Brentford at Anfield.
Ten Hag knows United will be a less attractive option for transfer targets if they are not in Europe’s top competition.
While the Dutchman does not know what his summer budget will be, amid ongoing uncertainty over a potential takeover, Champions League football will boost his financial power in the market.
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Asked how crucial that top-four finish was to United in regards to investment, Ten Hag replied: “It is always vital to be in the Champions League.
“It is a battle because many teams in the Premier League are competing for it.
“We have the power and must fight for it as well. We’ll do everything to get there.
“We want to be in there because we want to challenge the best teams in the world. So, we do everything that’s in our power to get that done.”
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United have the chance to bounce back tomorrow night at West Ham.
Ten Hag is confident his men can recover from their Seagulls setback.
The United chief said: “We had quite a good run before Brighton — four wins and a draw from the last five.
“We have everything in our hands so have to focus on our performance. I trust my players. I am quite confident about that top four.”
After the first two games of the season — humbling defeats by Brighton and Brentford — Ten Hag’s side have followed each of their Premier League losses with a victory.
And the former Ajax boss reckons the Red Devils can repeat the feat against David Moyes’ Hammers.
He said: “Every time we’ve had a defeat, we bounced back. I count on my team, we have to do it again.
“There is no time to stay in this. After one hour we move on to the game against West Ham and focus on that.
“We will prepare them and make a good plan.
“The players have to take responsibility and they will do — I count on them.
“They have to do it and can do it because we have the evidence this season.
His passion is a strength. I just say, ‘Don’t go over the top, stay focused on your game’.
Erik ten Hag on Antony
“I am looking forward to it. We played them twice this season because also we faced them in the FA Cup and it’s going to be another great game.
“Every game is a battle, every game is a challenge. We have to get ready for that.”
Ten Hag defended Antony after he took a wild swipe at Mac Allister in the 69th minute, which could have earned a red card, before squaring up to Lewis Dunk.
Antony and Dunk were both yellow-carded by referee Andre Marriner as Ten Hag quickly hooked the Brazilian.
But backing his winger, Ten Hag added: “His passion is a strength. You need passion and desire to win your games and win battles in the game.
“It is very strong with him and he is very ambitious.
“I just say, ‘Don’t go over the top, stay focused on your game and what the game needs’. If he does that, he is a great player.”
United will make a late call on whether Alejandro Garnacho returns from an ankle injury suffered in March.
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Asked about his 18-year-old winger, Ten Hag said: “Maybe he can be involved but we’ll see how his progress goes.”
MAN UTD (likely): De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony, Martial, Rashford.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
