UNITED SPECIAL
UNITED’S hopes of reaching one cup final were ended by Wolves on Saturday night, but Nemanja Matic believes they have eight more still to come if they are to secure a crucial top-four finish in the Premier League.
The momentum United had builtup under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been halted over the past week, with a Premier League defeat to Arsenal in a key game in that battle for the top-four followed by a meek FA Cup quarter-final exit to Wolves on Saturday night.
Defeat at Molineux was United’s worst performance in the Solskjaer era and leaves any hopes of silverware this season resting in Europe, where they face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.
United are also locked in a fourway battle for two places in Europe’s premier competition for next season, with Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea.
That could be a race for third and fourth that goes to the final day of the season and with eight league fixtures remaining Matic insists United have to treat everyone like a cup final to achieve their aim – beginning with the Old Trafford clash with Watford after the international break.
“We have to give our best now to reach the top four,” the 30-year-old said.
“We cannot let it go like this. We are not happy with the game.
“We will analyse everything. There is a lot to play for. We have eight games to play in the Premier League and we are fighting for the top four. We have the Champions League as well.
“We will see what we are able to do and how much quality we have. We have to learn from this type of game.
“Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham will give their best to be in the top four. Everybody knows that. If you see two months ago we were 11 points behind Chelsea and now we are in a much better position. We have eight finals to play so we have to learn from this.” Matic added his voice to the growing number of United players who have publicly backed Solskjaer to be given the job on a full-time basis, with the caretaker boss currently contracted until the end of the season. The Serbian midfielder has also backed Solskjaer to turn United’s fortunes around after a disappointing week. “We will analyse this game to see where we made mistakes and see what we can do better,” said Matic. I am sure he (Solskjaer) will turn this situation around and we will do better. “I want Ole to stay. He is a great manager, very positive and the club will decide. “When you win 10 games that means a lot because it is not easy. “We have lost the last two away to Nemanja Matic