Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that the club "need better players" if they are to become challengers for the Premier League title.
The Dutchman has overseen a successful 2022-23 campaign at Old Trafford, with the team already winning the EFL Cup, while they will take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final on June 3.
Man United also secured a top-four position in the Premier League table by beating Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday night, so they will return to the Champions League next season.
Ten Hag said after the clash with the Blues that he was not prepared to accept a top-four finish as success, though, with the 53-year-old wanting "better players" to compete for the biggest prizes.
Man United are working to sign a big-money centre-forward this summer, while the club are also believed to be looking to bring in a central midfielder and a centre-back.
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"It's difficult to say in this moment, you have to see now how you come out of the transfer window but if I see now we need more," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference. "But I don't have so much patience, that is one of my mistakes.
"We want to win every game but also, as I just tried to explain, it's tough here, there are really good teams, especially this season. Manchester City are playing really outstanding football. We have a way to go, we are in the right direction, we have work to do, so a work in progress.
"I think in this league, that's a good base to be in the top four but, we want to compete for the title. But it has to be realistic and you can first say when you have your squad in the end of the transfer window and also the winter transfer window that you can do, the squad is there and you can make a statement about if it's realistic or not.
"Now we are far away, so we have a lot of work to do, we've made progress with this team, with this squad but we need better players if we want to compete for the highest.
"I think in the Premier League, yeah, it (top four)'s something like [a trophy], it's the main objective of the season to get in the Champions League, so therefore you have to see yourself in the top four.
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"The competition is tough, there are many teams with really good squads, good managers, so when you are in there, you did a good job and your team is playing well and performing well and for this moment this is the maximum but we want more."
Ten Hag was also asked whether he would be directly involved in the club's transfer plans this summer.
"So I think this is my job to be involved [in the transfer plans]. So, yeah, we have to work on the squad a bit. You already said it and next week [is] going to be big and huge, and we will do everything in our power," added the Dutchman.
"It's not [going to] be easy, but yeah, we have to get well-prepared and give us the best chance to get that cup. We have a great opportunity and you don't get such opportunities so often. And then, of course, we are working in the background. Then we go through next season, but that's far away."
There remains uncertainty when it comes to the size of Man United's summer budget, though, as the current owners the Glazers are in talks over a sale, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani in the running to complete a takeover.
Matt Law
