As he recalled how the team's skeptics weren't even backing them for a top-six spot at the beginning of the season, Bruno Fernandes prophesied that his Manchester United side will achieve "much bigger things."
For the majority of the season, United has been in the lead for Champions League qualifying, but back-to-back losses to Brighton and West Ham have allowed a revitalized Liverpool to gain ground. With one more game played, Jurgen Klopp's team has won five straight games and is now only a point behind Liverpool.
After winning the Carabao Cup and having the FA Cup final on the horizon, Erik ten Hag's team has four games left to guarantee their spot in next season's premier European competition, which would make the season a resounding triumph. Victims of their own success, advancement into the last rounds of all tournaments has meant an exhausting schedule; the five days between West Ham and Wolves mark the first rest since Christmas.
They will play a total of 62 games before the season ends, but despite the players' apparent weariness, Fernandes assures the team is still fighting and believes they can advance in the future.
"We have such a great team that has been doing a great job this season when no one thought United could be fighting for the top four," Fernandes told Sky Sports. "Now everyone is thinking that United has been great but I remember at the beginning of the season, no one put our team in the top six."
"It’s a good surprise for them, but not for us because we knew we could be there, we knew we could be even higher in the league but we had our moments and that's we’re still in the position of fighting for top four and not bigger things. But I think soon, this club and these players will be fighting for much bigger things."
When they play home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, United can reclaim a four-point lead over Liverpool, who don't play Leicester City until Monday.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen believes Manchester United shouldn't be concerned about Manchester City potentially achieving a treble this season since his team has the chance to prevent it by taking home the FA Cup.
Erik ten Hag will be looking to win the FA Cup in his first season at Old Trafford after United have won the Carabao Cup this season. However, rival City will prevent him from doing so.
For the first time in the competition's history, the FA Cup final on June 3 at Wembley will include a Manchester derby. The match also has additional significance because it may give City the second leg of a potential treble season.
The team led by Pep Guardiola is favored to win the Premier League and might have already accomplished this feat by the time of the FA Cup final. To clinch the triple, City would then need to defeat United and triumph in the Champions League a week later.
Eriksen was questioned about the likelihood of City winning the treble while speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards this week in Paris.
"First they [City] need to win the two other ones which are not in our hands," Eriksen told The Telegraph. "But I'm sure we will do what we can. So if we will get our trophy, then it doesn't matter what they get."
Eriksen also reflected on his move to United last summer and he admitted it was 'difficult' to turn down Brentford's offer.
"Yeah, it was difficult. I had a very good time there, and I will always be grateful to Brentford and Thomas Frank for giving me the chance to come back and be their footballer," he added.
"But also, I told Thomas from the start that if something more exciting comes that I could see myself at a top level that I would go for it. And for me, luckily United came in and that was really it."
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