Erik ten Hag admits there is 'big pressure' to get into Premier League top four

Manchester United resume league campaign at home against Nottingham Forest

Manchester United's Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo with teammates during a training session in Carrington on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Getty

Brandon Williams during Manchester United's training session in Carrington. Getty

Scott McTominay, Zidane Iqbal, Rhys Bennett, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and Antony during Manchester United's training session. Getty

Anthony Elanga and Rhys Bennett with Manchester United teammates during training. Getty

Rhys Bennett and Fred during training in Carrington. Getty

Anthony Elanga and Kobbie Mainoo train in Manchester. Getty

Zidane Iqbal and Brandon Williams train in Carrington. Getty

Facundo Pellistri and Antony train on Thursday. Getty

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."

United beat Burnley in League Cup

While United had various players that had been at the World Cup in action on Wednesday, absentees from the matchday squad included Harry Maguire (illness) and Diogo Dalot, who are doubts for Tuesday.

It also remains to be seen whether there is any involvement for Lisandro Martinez, an unused substitute for Argentina in last weekend's final in Qatar, and Raphael Varane, part of the France side they beat on penalties.

Ten Hag said: "(Martinez) has been celebrating in Buenos Aires and I can understand that. It's the highest you can achieve. But also, Lisandro Martinez has to accept on the 27th the Premier League will go on.

"Of course (Varane) is disappointed about losing but I think also he can be proud that he was again in that final (having won the 2018 World Cup), and of all that he achieved already in his career."

Another player absent on Wednesday was Jadon Sancho, and Ten Hag has said he does not expect the winger, who last played in a match on October 22 and has been on an individual training programme, to be available on Tuesday.