Erik ten Hag admits Champions League qualification is vital

The 20-time English champions have had a difficult campaign, but they will enter Sunday's clash with Aston Villa off the back of three successive victories in all competitions.

Man United have won their last two in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, with the Red Devils currently sixth in the table, eight points behind fifth-placed Villa ahead of Sunday's contest at Villa Park.

Ten Hag's side, meanwhile, are nine points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have played a game more.

Man United's head coach has refused to play down the importance of securing Champions League football for next season, as it will give the club more power in the transfer market.

«Yeah, it's very important to play Champions League. That is clear so we don't have to discuss this. And what is exactly the impact in this moment, I don't know,» Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference ahead of the clash with Villa.

«But yeah, of course you have more financial power when you were achieving the Champions League. And so that is all our target, absolutely.»

Ten Hag was also asked about recently bringing youngsters into the Man United first-team squad, with 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo becoming a vital player for the Dutchman in recent weeks.

«Yeah, it's more easy to bring, to integrate young talent into a successful team. That's true. And so the conditions where we had to bring Kobbie Mainoo in that moment, it was not,» he said.

«So it was not really that, you know, on forehand that will be a success. I had that confidence because I saw him performing. I