‘We’ve got to’: In-form United ace says Champions League football ‘needs to be’ at Old Trafford next season

Harry Maguire has reiterated the need for Manchester United to close the gap on the top four and pip their rivals to a Champions League spot.

Last Sunday’s win over Aston Villa saw the Reds move to within five points of the fifth-placed side, as well as putting them six points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

Five out of United’s next six Premier League fixtures are against teams in the bottom half of the table, and Erik ten Hag’s men must take advantage of the struggling opposition by claiming the maximum points in each outing.

Now on a run of three successive league wins, momentum is undoubtedly building within the squad, but one bad defeat could easily break their stride. The Manchester derby is fast approaching at the Etihad on March 3 and last season, City led 4-0 by the halfway stage and went on to win 6-3.

Alas, Maguire is well aware of the task at hand and with Lisandro Martinez sidelined for an extended period, the Englishman will have a pivotal role to play in United’s quest for a European place.

Maguire’s rallying call

“We’ve had a good period but that’s it really, we’re still not where we want to be, we’re still playing catch-up on the points tally but it’s been a nice few games for us,” the No.5 began, as cited by ManUtd.com.

“We’ve got another big game at the weekend [against Luton Town] and then another big game the weekend after [against Fulham], because that’s what it is now. We’re playing catch-up with the points so we’ve got to take each game as it comes and make sure we get the three points.

“At the start of the season, we didn’t set our goals to be in the top four, we set bigger challenges than that but now we know where we are, we’re realistic. We’ve got to reach Champions League football because it’s what this club demands and it’s where it needs to be next season.”