Erik ten Hag eyes Champions League spot after Manchester United beat Luton Town – ‘We are back in the race’

A quick-fire double from Rasmus Hojlund helped United on their way to a fourth win in a row in the Premier League, with Ten Hag’s side unbeaten in the league in 2024.

Now, the Dutchman in the United dugout is starting to believe that, after a difficult start to the campaign, the Old Trafford outfit are starting to build some momentum ahead of a top four assault.

“We are back in the race [for the top four],” Ten Hag told Sky Sports post-match.

“We are building momentum. Now we have to keep this going; we have to work on our game, and build pressure on [those above us].

“We have to go from game to game. Every game is a final to get closer and make more distance to the teams who are behind us.”

United started scintillatingly at Kenilworth Road, and silenced a hostile atmosphere as Hojlund’s brace had them two up inside seven minutes.

However, Rob Edwards’ dogged hosts refused to go down without a fight, and, spurred on by the sell-out home support, the Hatters halved the deficit on 14 minutes when Carlton Morris bravely nodded home past Andre Onana.

Ten Hag admitted that his side lost their way after their superb start, and let the host back into the contest.

“It could have been an easy game after 10 minutes, but in the end, it was difficult because we didn’t take our chances; we allowed them to get back into the game,” the United boss said.

“[The start was] very good after 10 minutes, but after, with [Alejandro] Garnacho and [Marcus] Rashford, we had big chances to make it 3-0 and 4-0. We dropped too deep; we allowed them to get back into the game and we didn’t close the half-spaces where they passed the balls in. Our centre-halves had to come out and we allowed them shots and crosses, and it got difficult.

“In the second half as well, we didn’t take our chances. There were so many big chances. We should have scored [through] Bruno [Fernandes], Garnacho and Rashford. There were not ‘opportunities’, they were 100% chances, and one has to go in, and then you make your life easier. [Instead], we kept them in the game.”

Two-goal hero Hojlund, who now has six goals in his last five appearances, admitted that there were elements of disappointment earlier in the season when he could not break his Premier League duck, especially at a club the stature of Manchester United, where the pressure is sky-high.

“I never doubted myself, but of course you can be a little bit down when you’re not scoring in the Premier League, especially when you’re that young and the expectation is that high,” Hojlund told Sky Sports.

“I always believed in myself; I scored a lot of goals in the Champions League, so it was just a matter of time. I kept working on my finishing and my confidence in training, learning [how to play with] my team-mates, and getting an understanding of where to position myself when the right-back or left-back [has the ball], or with Rashford, Garnacho, or Antony, whoever’s playing on the wing, and with Bruno as well.”

Ten Hag was quick to praise the young Dane’s performance, adding: “One of the things we recruited [Hojlund] on was his character; I knew he was a very strong character.

“Although he’s [only] 21, he can really perform under stress, and that’s one of the big skills you need as a Man United striker. He doesn’t get nervous or lose confidence when he’s not scoring. Of course, it would have helped when he came in in his first game against Arsenal [and was fouled for] a 100% penalty that he didn’t get, or the game after against Brighton, he scored a goal that [was disallowed].

“When you come into a new team, a new league – especially at a big club – you want to build that confidence quickly. It will help, and once you’re on a run, you see it. He’s scoring; he touches the ball, and it’s in. That’s the way he is now. He has a lot of confidence, and I’m sure he will score even more.”