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Ander Herrera vows to fight for top-four spot

Ander Herrera vows to fight for top-four spot
© Reuters
United are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Ander Herrera says Manchester United belong in the Champions League and must remain positive in their challenging quest to qualify for the competition.

United are playing catch-up in the race for a top-four finish following four defeats in seven Premier League games.

Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer's sixth-placed side sit three points adrift of Chelsea and one behind Arsenal with just two fixtures remaining and appear destined for the Europa League next season.

But, going into Sunday's game at relegated Huddersfield, midfielder Herrera has not given up hope of sneaking fourth spot.

"We are going to fight for it. Of course at the moment it's in the hands of Chelsea but we still have six points to play (for)," the Spaniard told United's YouTube channel.

"The Champions League is where this club should be always and that's why it is very, very important. Winning titles and playing in the Champions League is the history of this club.

"Football is sometimes like this, you have to wait for some results and the only thing we can do is to try to win both games, first of all Huddersfield away.

Huddersfield Town's Danny Williams (left) and Manchester United's Ander Herrera battle for the ball at the John Smith's Stadium
Huddersfield Town's Danny Williams (left) and Manchester United's Ander Herrera battle for the ball at the John Smith's Stadium (Nigel French/PA Images).

"We didn't win (there) last year so it's a good challenge for us. Don't go crazy about the game of Chelsea (at home to Watford), just think about ourselves."

United's points tally initially soared after Solskjaer replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in December.

However, the Norwegian manager has endured a rocky couple of months which have included FA Cup and Champions League exits, as well as a slump in their league form.

The 20-time champions squandered an excellent opportunity to overhaul their top-four rivals when they surrendered a lead to draw 1-1 with Chelsea last weekend.

Juan Mata, who put United ahead in that game against his former club, echoed the comments of his compatriot Herrera.

Juan Mata is still hopeful Manchester United can snatch a top-four finish this season
Juan Mata is still hopeful Manchester United can snatch a top-four finish this season (Martin Rickett/PA Images).

"We can still qualify so I think we have to believe until the end and first we should focus on our job, which is not thinking about others but trying to get six points and then wait. It's the only thing we can do," said Mata.

"It's not impossible yet. We have done a very difficult job coming from where we were to be where we are in the table and we want to try until the end second of the Premier League to try to get into the top four."

Opponents Huddersfield, who beat United 2-1 at the John Smith's Stadium last term, have picked up just three wins and 14 points during a torrid second season in the Premier League.

Despite the Terriers' struggles, Mata insists they cannot be underestimated.

"Huddersfield, they are relegated, they didn't have a great season but last season they did brilliantly, it was a very difficult place to go, I can tell you that," he added.

"We have to be professional, we have to go there and expect a difficult game because they will be trying to show that even though they are relegated they can beat Manchester United so we have to be ready for that."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37312491226995
2Liverpool37297187226594
3Chelsea37218863392471
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs372311365372870
5Arsenal372071070502067
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd37199965521366
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37169124744357
8Everton37158145244853
9Leicester CityLeicester37156165148351
10Watford37148155155-450
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham37147164854-649
12Crystal Palace37137174650-446
13Bournemouth37136185365-1245
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37119173848-1042
15Burnley37117194465-2140
16Southampton37911174464-2038
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3799193456-2236
RCardiff CityCardiff3794243269-3731
RFulham3775253477-4326
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3736282175-5415

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