Legendary former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes a top-four finish is within sight, and manager Erik ten Hag is also increasingly convinced.
In terms of points, Sunday's win against Aston Villa means United may be just three places closer to the coveted top four than they were after their defeat at Nottingham Forest on December 30. do not have.
However, it does have an optical system.
Three consecutive Premier League wins, including a late winner with Wolves. Now Villa Park After Scott McTominay settled a game that United could easily have lost. They have won four games in a row in all competitions for the first time this season, and will continue to have winnable games against Luton and Fulham.
This latest win leaves them just six points clear of fourth-placed Spurs and just one point clear of fifth-placed Aston Villa, with two of Europe's most successful nations set to be added to next year's renewal. Securing a spot could even be enough to secure a place in next season's Champions League. competition.
Keane is happy to shine the spotlight on the team United are trying to chase down.
“They have momentum,” the Irishman told Sky Sports. “The teams in front of them will be worried, especially Aston Villa and Tottenham. They are chasing them.”
Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville added: “Manchester United could have been eliminated today but now they are within reach.”
Tenba Baa does not exaggerate. But he offers a straightforward analysis.
“We're in this situation and we need to catch up,” he said. “We can beat any opponent away or at home, but sometimes you have to believe in it even away.
“We could have won at Arsenal, we deserved to win, we could have won at Liverpool. It's a matter of belief and I believed this team could win today.”
Hojland is on fire
Before the first meeting between United and Villa on Boxing Day, Rasmus Hjølund had yet to score his first Premier League goal. More pertinently, he didn't really look like he was scoring goals. His confidence seemed to be waning.
But as United fought back to turn a two-goal deficit into a thrilling 3-2 win, the 21-year-old sealed the victory by tucking in the loose ball after Bruno Fernandes' corner kick hit John McGinn. .
It's no exaggeration to say that this goal made Hojlund's season a success.
The Dane held his position in the middle of the Villa six-yard area on Sunday when Harry Maguire headed the ball back from Fernandes' corner. Ollie Watkins played Hojlund onside and the striker swept home.
He has now scored six goals in seven games and five in his last five Premier League games. The only player to achieve the latter feat at such a young age is Nicolas Anelka, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1997-98.
“Every time Hojland steps on the pitch, he seems to believe he can score,” Keane said.
“He's a different player than he was before. He's full of confidence and he's showing real drive. The fact that he's had to play week in and week out has actually helped him a lot. ”
Ten Hag may have wanted Harry Kane at the start of the summer, but they have repeatedly defended United's decision to invest £72m to acquire youth signing Hojlund from Serie A side Atalanta. Ta.
And just as doubts about the wisdom of that decision begin to ease, so too will the debate surrounding goaltender Andre Onana.
Some were baffled as United fought to keep Onana for as long as possible before finally reporting to Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. Onana's form has been so uneven that one wonders why Ten Hag were so reluctant to allow Turkish international Altay Bayndir to play for extended periods.
Onana brought it to you at Villa Park.
“Their keeper was great,” Villa coach Unai Emery said.
That was an understatement as he produced a series of impressive saves to frustrate the host team.
Considering how many times he had to defend the pair, Ten Hag must have been satisfied with their joint contribution.
“The award is given at the end of the season,” said the Dutchman. “We're in February and have a lot of games to play, but we're back. We have to improve our game, but we're happy to get back-to-back wins.”
The Varan Lewis incident is downplayed
Ten Hag quelled an altercation between United defenders Raphael Varane and Douglas Luiz, which appeared to have been triggered by the Villa midfielder's reaction to the goal, requiring referee Rob Jones to intervene. And so.
“I don't have an opinion on that,” he said. “I haven't talked to the players about anything. I don't think it's important.”
The United manager also said he was not ready to take any risks on Luke Shaw, who did not re-appear at the start of the second half.
Shaw was sidelined for three months earlier in the season with a muscular problem, but this was his fourth appearance since returning from injury.
“Luke has some complaints and we know his past,” Ten Hag said. “He had too many injuries and we couldn't take that risk and be without him for six weeks.”
