Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag isn’t losing hope on UEFA Champions League qualification despite his side’s 2-1 home loss to Fulham on Saturday.
United were undone by a 97th minute Alex Iwobi winner after Adama Traore burst clear down the right flank. Harry Maguire had equalised in the 89th minute for the Red Devils.
The result ends their four-game winning run in the league and dents their top four aspirations, with fourth-placed Aston Villa beating Nottingham Forest 4-2.
Among the race for Champions League qualification is Tottenham in fifth too. Villa are fourth on 52 points from 26 games, with Spurs fifth on 47 from 25 and United sixth on 44 from 26.
“We caught up and we are in that position but it is up to us to deal with this,” Ten Hag told reporters.
United were without in-form Danish forward Rasmus Hojland for Saturday’s game, although the manager pointed to other issues, with Casemiro replaced in the 53rd minute following a clash of heads.
“It’s not only Rasmus. It’s Luke Shaw. Casemiro fell out, shortly after the break, so it’s a lot of change in the team,” he said.
“Of course, that has consequences. You don’t play the same levels as we did last week. When they are not available, we have to deal with it.
“We could have won this game, also with this squad today, we should have won this game.
“We scored today as well, and we know we can sort it out, but, of course, we prefer he is available.”
On Casemiro’s status following his heavy knock, Ten Hag said he wasn’t fully clear on the extent of the issue.
“I don’t know if it’s concussion but it’s definitely head to head,” he said.
“I actually don’t know [the issue] but he had to come off. He had to come off so we have to speak with the doctor, and the medical team, to see how he’s doing.
“He couldn’t continue the game. We have all seen that. We had to take him off and, hopefully, he’s better by tomorrow.”
