(Football news) Erik ten Hag has highlighted his ambitions for the ongoing season, saying that Manchester United remain on track for a top four finish and silverware. The Dutch manager has been planning meticulously for his team during the World Cup and is hoping that the Red Devils can eventually be back where they belong.

His team won 2-0 against Burnley in the Carabao Cup to progress into the quarter-finals and will now take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on December 27th. Currently fifth, Manchester United are three points outside top four and Champions League football will be integral to getting the best players in the summer transfer window.

“It is. We had a plan on how to do it, how to manage the load on the players. It’s all individual-based, no one is the same, no one had the same programme or minutes, and they play in different positions and are different ages. We tried to give everyone a plan, but we all know the restart is five or six days after the World Cup final.

“The Premier League resumes really quickly so everyone has to be ready for that, the manager, coaching staff and players have to accept that. We want trophies, we want to have a strong team to battle for trophies. We have to adapt, do it smartly, and hopefully, we can perform and get the right results.”

“We are aware the competition is tough, but it counts for all the seven, eight clubs fighting for the top four. For all those that watch the Premier League, it is great because it will be exciting. You have to battle for every duel to get your points. I am looking at the process, how we are performing – we have to get results – but if we make the right progress, we have a good chance to get into the top four.

“I accept it [the pressure] how it is. But also, for the manager of Chelsea, Newcastle United, all those clubs invested a lot in their squads as well. For every manager, it is big pressure to get into the Champions League. You want to be in the top four, you want to fight for trophies. That is our aim, that is clear.” – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag

When asked about Lisandro Martinez’s availability, Ten Hag replied “I cannot answer that. He is still celebrating in Argentina! He’s on a bus going around Buenos Aires! I can understand the emotions when you achieve this for your country, it’s magnificent, the highest you can achieve. But Licha Martinez also has to accept that on December 27, the Premier League will go on.”

On Varane, Ten Hag added: “He is, of course, disappointed about losing the final, but he can be proud that he was in the final again. With all that he has achieved in his football career, it was a massive performance. When you win so many trophies [like he has], this time he was second, but he can be so proud because getting to the final was a big achievement because the level of the nations was very close.”

Also read: Carabao Cup: Man City defeated Liverpool to progress into the quarterfinal