Manchester United’s April fixtures as Solskjaer’s side enter season defining month

210226 -- MANCHESTER, Feb. 26, 2021 -- Manchester United, ManU s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is seen during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 second Leg football match between Manchester United and Real Sociedad in Manchester, Britain, on Feb. 25, 2021. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR LIVE SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. SPBRITAIN-MANCHESTER-FOOTBALL-EUROPA LEAGUE-MANCHESTER UNITED VS REAL SOCIEDAD Xinhua PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN

Manchester United’s six April fixtures will define the complexion of their season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs a strong finish to his second full-campaign in charge to validate his progress as United boss.

That validation would come from a Europa League triumph, with the second-rate European competition United’s last realistic hope of claiming their first piece of silverware under the Norwegian.

The FA Cup exit to Leicester City before the international break was a real blow as lacklustre United missed the chance of a favourable Wembley semi-final against Southampton.

But United must now prioritise consolidating second place in the Premier League behind runaway leaders Manchester City and they can all but secure Champions League football for next season through a top four finish if they have a successful month.

Four league fixtures await, with very winnable home games against struggling Brighton and Burnley sandwiched between tricky away fixtures against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs and old rivals Leeds.

It is imperative United come through their Europa League quarter-final against La Liga’s eighth-placed side Granada unscathed, with Ajax or Roma set to face the winner in the semi-finals.

United’s April fixtures:

 April 4: Manchester United vs Brighton – Premier League

April 8: Granada CF vs Manchester United – Europa League quarter-final first leg

April 11: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United – Premier League  

April 15: Manchester United vs Granada CF – Europa League quarter-final second leg

April 18: Manchester United vs Burnley – Premier League 

April 25: Leeds United vs Manchester United – Premier League

READ MORE: Premier League defender ‘open’ to the idea of joining Man United