Manchester United Target Higher Finish Despite Champions League Push

• Steve Holland calls for focus on closing gap to top of Premier League
• United sit third under Michael Carrick with seven games remaining
• Extended break used for focused training camp ahead of Leeds fixture

Manchester United assistant manager Steve Holland has said the club are aiming beyond Champions League qualification as the season enters its final phase.

United have risen to third place since Michael Carrick took charge in January and remain on course to return to Europe’s leading club competition after a one year absence.

Holland said the priority is to finish as high as possible rather than focusing on rivals below them in the table.

“I think the language we should be using as this club is to finish as close as we possibly can to the top,” he told the club’s official website. “I don’t know how possible that is, but that has to be the challenge always.”

He added that the coaching staff have directed attention towards winning matches rather than tracking other results.

“We’ve been speaking more to the players about winning our matches, rather than thinking too much about what’s happening below. To finish in the Champions League places would be a good situation, but we should be looking for more than that.”

United’s position has been strengthened by Arsenal’s recent European result, which confirmed the Premier League will receive at least five Champions League places next season through UEFA’s performance ranking system.

Heading into the weekend, United hold a seven point advantage over Chelsea in sixth place.

The squad have spent the week at a training camp in Dublin, taking advantage of a 24 day gap between fixtures following the 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth on March 20.

The extended break reflects the international calendar and the club’s early exit from domestic cup competitions.

“Our last game, Bournemouth to Leeds, is a Premier League record in terms of time between games,” Holland said. “The gap has been as big as you can have. It was important to bring the group together again and focus on finishing the season well.”

United return to action against Leeds United at Old Trafford, with their remaining fixtures set to determine both their final league position and European qualification.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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