Erik: All the focus is on the league

The boss discussed the latest injury situation, the chance to win silverware in the FA Cup and the focus on the remaining six games in the Premier League, starting with the visit of the relegation-haunted Blades...

Erik, first and foremost, congratulations on getting us to another FA Cup final. Some people have lost sight of that, but it is a really good achievement to be there two years in a row and you've got a chance to lift silverware...

"Yeah. So it is. So it's a big achievement. Before we said it's a big opportunity, especially after all the setbacks and the injuries and the problems. The issues off-field we have had, it is a big achievement. We have an opportunity to go for silverware and we will put everything in to get the silverware and to lift the cup."

I know we did make it tough on ourselves, but it was a tough game, particularly after having so much control. How is the squad after that game? There were a couple of players that might have picked up knocks...

"It's 120 minutes, [it means] it is a lot of energy you have to put in. But we picked up some knocks and we have seen [Alejandro] Garnacho and we have to take him off because he had something. Hopefully, tomorrow, he is available. Then we had Scott McTominay, he came off and we had to sub him as well. And yeah, we have to see today if he is available for tomorrow. Then we have Bruno [Fernandes]. He had a problem on his hand. I think he will be available. And then, the last one, is Marcus. Of course, we have seen he came off as well, and he had a kick on his Achilles and we'll see how he is tomorrow. If he is recovered."

On the weekend. It was a very young bench. What would those young players have learned from being part of your group? And from that experience?

"Yeah, they've learned a lot, I think. That you keep the focus and keep going. Game management. When opponents take more risk, how to deal with it. How you have to read it as a team and take your messages as a team."

The game against Sheffield United at Old Trafford, the first of six Premier League games this season before the FA Cup final. So what do you want to see from your players in these matches?

"Win. And, in football, it's about the result and about winning. And we have now two opportunities to go into Europe and one is through the league and one is through the cup final. So, yeah, make sure we're collecting enough points in the league first, because that's the first opportunity, and then the FA Cup final. We bury that now, for now. We have to refocus and we go into the last week. But, for now, all the focus has to be on the league."

Four of those six games are at Old Trafford. So how big an opportunity is that for your players to put in good performances in front of our brilliant fans?

"Yeah, it's fantastic, we are together and that we we achieved it, also together. For the fans. It's great to have another final that we can look forward to. For us, for the fans. In the meantime, keep together, stick together and make it strong. But for us, yeah, we want to to show them as well and there will be in difficult moments. We have had difficult moments and it will keep going. So maybe, in the coming weeks, players can return and then also we can construct a team more who can play really to the way we want to play. But, until that moment, we have to be creative. But maybe they are not there [back from injury] in the final as well, and then still we have to win the game. So, in difficult moments, you have to stick together. And that's why we are together. Fans and players, the team are in the FA Cup final, and now we have to transfer this into the league as well to collect enough points to assure us for Europe."