Erik ten Hag: Man United belong in Champions League after thrashing Chelsea

Erik ten Hag said Manchester United belong in the Champions League and was happy to guide the club into the competition for next season, although the celebrations on Thursday were soured somewhat by a "serious" injury to winger Antony.

United confirmed their place in the Premier League top four with a convincing 4-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford, moving up to third on 72 points, six clear of Liverpool in fifth with one match remaining.

"It’s really important [to finish in the top four]," Ten Hag said. "This club belongs in the Champions League and it’s not so easy in the Premier League. It’s a tough competition, strong, with a lot of teams competing for that. And we made it, so we make a good season."

Casemiro opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he headed home a Christian Eriksen free-kick, and the Brazilian was involved in the second goal on the stroke of halftime when his no-look pass opened up the Chelsea defence for Jadon Sancho to square for Anthony Martial.

United should have had more goals to round off a fine night in the second half as Bruno Fernandes smashed against the bar and Eriksen somehow failed to turn in Tyrell Malacia's cross from point-blank range.

Fernandes did finally get his goal from the penalty spot after the Portuguese midfielder was brought down by Wesley Fofana.

More calamitous Chelsea defending invited Rashford to become the first United player in a decade to score 30 goals in a season.

Fernandes pounced on Fofana's loose pass and teed up the England international, who needed two attempts to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The waste of Chelsea's season can be summed up by the £10 million loan fee splurged on Joao Felix in January for a few months with little left to play for. But the