Former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville believes that the Red Devils have what it takes to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season.
Erik ten Hag's side extended their winning run in all competitions to eight games with a 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, with Marcus Rashford's 100th goal for the club separating the two sides.
Following the disastrous start to the campaign that saw them suffer back-to-back losses to Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, Man United have only lost to Manchester City in their last 10 top-flight outings.
A tally of 23 points from 12 matches has elevated Man United into fifth place in the table - just one point behind Newcastle United and three points behind Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom have played a game more.
After ending the 2020-21 season in second place under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Man United settled for Europa League football again for 2022-23 after only placing sixth last term.
© Reuters
Since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, Man United have only finished in the top four in three of the last nine Premier League seasons, but Neville can envisage the current Red Devils crop doing so this time around.
"I think they have a great chance of finishing in the top four now. A great chance," Neville told Sky Sports, backtracking on his previous comments from before the season started where he suggested that the club would struggle to earn a Champions League spot.
"I think there is enough around Chelsea, Liverpool, and Spurs that United will feel they can push through that bunch. I never would have thought that four or five weeks ago.
"Looking at United's front players at the moment, Liverpool's front-three, City's front-three, Chelsea with [Raheem] Sterling and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, United have the weakest front players at this time. But they have something to be fair that is happening under Ten Hag that is giving them a great spirit."
Despite overseeing a seventh domestic win of the season for Man United, Ten Hag was not completely satisfied with his side's performance on Sunday as West Ham pressed for an equaliser.
© Reuters
"Yeah, it's a double feeling I would say, because it's great and I'm really happy with this win, and also the way we fight again and we are supporting each other and we are acting as a team," Ten Hag told the press.
"I think we had to manage this game better. To keep the ball better and also, in the second half, to keep discipline in the pressing. Then you keep more control of the play. Second half, I have to be critical,
"I also said the players, we have to manage things better. But the spirit we have is fabulous, also we have the qualities to score goals and we have attacking football and the fact is we have to improve that, but if we keep going, I think we are in the right direction.
"Once again, the spirit in the team is so high and reward to keep the process going. It's good to feel that fight we have together and we have to keep that going."
Man United now have a chance to qualify for the Europa League last 16 as group winners when they meet Real Sociedad on Thursday before tackling Aston Villa in the Premier League next weekend.
