Erik ten Hag confident Man United can avoid European exit

Erik ten Hag is confident his inconsistent but talented Manchester United side can beat Bayern Munich to stay in Europe as they pray for a Champions League miracle.

The Red Devils' Group A campaign has been punctuated by goals, madness and mistakes, leaving their hopes of reaching the knockout phase hanging by a thread.

United have just four points and sit bottom of the pool heading into the final match against already-qualified Bayern, meaning progress is out of their hands.

Ten Hag's men need to become the first side to beat the German outfit in a Champions League group game since September 2017 and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw in the other game.

United are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League if they win on a night that the Dutchman is heading into without thinking about the impact of failing to qualify from the group.

He said: "I don't know. What I know is I never think in a negative scenario. We think positive, so we know what to do.

"We have to win to stay in Europe, so it's all about that.

"We will prepare the team with that feeling and with that belief that we are able to do it and I think we have shown in the last weeks when we are on our best then we can do it."

United limp into this match on the back of Saturday's awful 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, which led Ten Hag to admit his team were not good enough to be consistent high performers.

But the Dutchman remains confident his side possesses the quality to beat the best as they look to end Bayern's competition record 39-match unbeaten group-stage run.

"It's our team (that gives me hope)," Ten Hag said. "We are not consistent. Clear.

"But we have also a very good performance and highs, so if we get it when we are in the right spirit, then we are able