Exclusive: Erik ten Hag says 'everyone is killing everyone' in Premier League amid top-4 bid, FA Cup can be 'shortcut'

In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Erik ten Hag says that "everyone killing everyone" in this season's Premier League can provide Manchester United an "opportunity" to secure a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League football for the club next term.

United, currently ninth in the table and 11 points adrift of the Champions League spots, will seek to start making up that deficit when they travel to Wolves on Thursday night, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

It is the first of six games during the month of February for Ten Hag and his men, with five in the league and an FA Cup fifth-round tie against either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest at the end of the month.

Revealing his objectives for the team over the remainder of the campaign, Ten Hag - speaking to TNT Sports - said: "We want to win, first of all, all the games.

"But of course we want to be in the Champions League, and therefore we have to catch up - we are all aware of this.

"But also you see in this Premier League everyone is killing everyone, so that gives the opportunity.

"There are no easy games, but definitely also not for us, because we don't have that consistency, we don't have the routines in this moment. So we have to get the results in.

"And then we have also the FA Cup, and that can be a shortcut to a trophy, but also for European football."

Returning to the United squad over recent weeks have been the likes of Luke Shaw, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, with all three featuring in the 4-2 win over Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round.

When asked to name the biggest thing that will drive success towards the business end of the season, Ten Hag said: "To get the players back, and to keep them in the team - fit.

"Because then we can work on our way of playing and on routines, and from there on we have to go to higher levels."

On the overall contribution of these experienced, returning leaders to the club on and off the pitch, Ten Hag added: "It's a lot [what they bring]. But at the end of the day it's about what they are bringing on the pitch, and what they bring [in terms of] talent on the pitch. That's important.

"So we are happy that they are returning, what they need in this moment is matches, matches on the highest levels.

"They need the games to go into high levels, because of course they missed some games, some rhythm. To go to their normal levels, and even to go to their maximum levels, they need the games and we need a consistent team to work on that."

A resurgent Wolves provide the first test for United in February, as Gary O'Neil's evolving side come into the fixture at Molineux on the back of taking 10 points from their last 12.

Last season's corresponding fixture saw United emerge as 1-0 winners thanks to a Marcus Rashford strike, a result that saw the club embark on a run of just one defeat in their ensuing eight Premier League matches en route to a third-place finish in the top flight.

"It's the truth [February being a crucial month]," Ten Hag said. "We like these challenges, tough games.

"They're in very good form, they also beat some strong opponents, also at home.

"So it's a very strong side and we have to play our best to get the right result and take the three points away to Manchester."

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Wolves v Man Utd will be live on TNT Sports 1 and Ultimate with coverage from 19:30 on Thursday, February 1 ahead of kick-off at 20:15.

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