Manchester United thrashed Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, and they will be back in action in the Champions League the following season.
In order to officially put an end to Liverpool's waning chances of qualifying for Europe's top club competition, United needed a point from their final two league games. Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes (penalty), and Marcus Rashford scored for United.
"It's important; this club belongs in the Champions League," said manager Erik ten Hag to Sky Sports. "But in the Premier League, it's not simple. It's a tough competition, so when you succeed it's a huge performance.
With one game left, United, a three-time champion in Europe who missed out on the Champions League last year, is in third place with 72 points, six points ahead of Liverpool in fifth.
Fourth-place Following a scoreless draw against Leicester City on Monday, Newcastle clinched a place among the elite of Europe. Chelsea, who has had a difficult season, is in 12th place with 43 points.
United won the Carabao Cup in February and will be attempting to complete a domestic double when they take on rival Manchester City in the FA Cup final on June 3. United will cap their Premier League season on Sunday by hosting 10th-place Fulham.
Fernandes said, "[The season has been] decent, it's not perfect because we want more. But I think it's great for what we accomplished this season. We knew we couldn't go for the Premier League [title], so our goal was to win one trophy and finish in the top four.
"Now the focus is on finishing the league strongly and winning the FA Cup."
Since the first weekend of the season, Ten Hag's team has gone 17 games without losing at Old Trafford in Premier League play.
The home crowd, according to Fernandes, "knows how important they are for us." "You could see how crucial it was in many games during the season, so we just appreciate all the effort," the player said.
In the sixth minute, Casemiro scored with a close-range header off a long free kick. Just before halftime, the Brazilian midfielder assisted in setting up Martial's goal by chipping the ball without looking into Jadon Sancho's path. To put the ball in the open net, Martial was there.
In the final moments, Chelsea's team under interim manager Frank Lampard disintegrated. Rashford scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions after returning from a two-game absence. He did so by cutting the ball around goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after Fernandes had made it 3-0 with a penalty in the 73rd minute.
Despite the joy of securing a spot in the top four, Ten Hag will be concerned ahead of United's game against Man City after winger Antony and Luke Shaw suffered injuries in the first half. Marcel Sabitzer and Lisandro Martinez are already absent for the Red Devils in that contest.
In the 89th minute, Joao Felix gave the visitors a chance to tie the score, but Chelsea was already destined to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1995–1996.
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