Ten Hag: Top-four pressure extends to many clubs

Erik ten Hag has stressed that while he accepts the weight of expectation as Manchester United manager to get them into the Premier League's top four, there is also "big pressure" on some of his counterparts.

Ahead of resuming their league campaign with Tuesday's home clash against Nottingham Forest, United are fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand.

When it was put to him that the pressure on a United boss regarding the Champions League places was possibly more intense than at other clubs, Ten Hag said: "I accept it, how it is.

"But I think also for the manager of Chelsea (Graham Potter), of Newcastle (Eddie Howe), all those clubs invest a lot in their squad. So for every manager it's a big pressure to get into the Champions League, that's clear.

"You want to be in the top four, to fight for trophies, and that's our aim."

The table also sees Arsenal and Manchester City in first and second respectively and Newcastle third, while Liverpool are sixth, four points behind United, and seventh spot is occupied by Brighton, another point back and level on points with eighth-placed Chelsea.

Ten Hag, whose side have won four, drawn two and lost one of their last seven league games and on Wednesday recorded a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Burnley in their first post-World Cup fixture, said: "We are aware the competition is tough, but I think it counts for all the seven, eight clubs who are fighting for the top four.

"You have to really battle for every duel to get your points. I'm looking at the process, how we're performing, and of course we have to get the results as well. But if the process is right, when we get the right progress, I think we have a good chance to get into that top four."

While United had