Michael Owen believes fans will be happy with Ten Hag’s first season at United

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag arrives ahead of the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on April 16, 2023. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen believes that by securing a top four finish and winning the Carabao Cup, the Reds would have a hugely successful season.

Manchester United cemented their place in third over the weekend following a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle lost, so it was a great weekend for Erik ten Hag’s men who sit six points clear with a game in hand.

But with a Europa League quarter-final and FA Cup semi-final to come this week, Ten Hag can lead his side to even more success – but at a big ask, especially with the injuries hitting the squad. Owen doesn’t think they are essential for United to have a good season, as he told AceOdds, as per the Manchester Evening News: “If they finish in the top four, then I’d say it’s massively successful. Let’s remember where Manchester United have been for the last whatever it’s been, 10/15 years. Certainly since Sir Alex Ferguson left.

“Yes, there’s been one or two trophies, but it’s been that much of a struggle the last few years, and I think winning a trophy and qualifying for the Champions League would be a giant, a giant step forward compared to what everybody probably expected at the start of the year.

“I think it would be a huge success. It’s looking likely that they should finish in the top four. As I say, with a trophy already under their belt it’s looking like a decent season.”

While we can’t get greedy and must remember the place we came from last season, Ten Hag is building a winning mentality with this squad and he urges them to go into every game expecting a win.

It’s the way it should be at United and I couldn’t agree more with Owen that this has been a hugely successful season.

Now we just need to clinch top four because winning our first trophy in six years brought great joy to the fanbase.

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