"There is no dispute to this fact and, with the Reds sitting in fourth spot in the Premier League table, now only three points adrift of Aston Villa in third, expectations are bound to have been raised. Whereas European qualification was an understandable target, following a 15th-placed finish in 2024/25, the charge for a UEFA Champions League return appears to be in full swing."
"There are 11 games to go for United, including huge battles with fellow contenders Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool - the clearest rivals at this stage, with Brentford five points further back in seventh. An awful lot of football has to be played and, despite our 10-game unbeaten run, Chelsea and Liverpool are currently in striking distance to overtake Carrick's men."
"I am hearing a lot of talk that the Reds have a massive advantage over the other challengers because we do not have European or cup football to add to our schedule. Yes, the 40-game campaign is a shockingly low one and we have all been aware of the benefits of potentially gaining more time on the training ground."
Manchester United have won five of six games under Michael Carrick's management, climbing to fourth place in the Premier League, just three points behind Aston Villa. This improvement from a 15th-place finish in 2024/25 has generated optimism about securing Champions League qualification. However, significant challenges remain with 11 games left, including crucial matches against Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool. While some suggest United's advantage of having no European or cup commitments provides substantial benefits, this supposed edge may be overstated. Recent scheduling shows comparable rest periods between matches for competing teams, indicating the advantage may not be as decisive as commonly portrayed.
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