Q&A: Erik reveals next target

Manchester United host Fulham on Sunday, knowing that a win will see us finish ahead of Newcastle United, regardless of the Magpies’ result at Chelsea.

The Cottagers are back at Old Trafford following March’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final clash, and Erik believes Marco Silva’s men will be super-motivated despite them not being able to move from their current position of 10th.

Read the boss’s pre-match interview, recorded on Friday, in full below...

Erik, first of all: Congratulations on securing the top-four target. Is the motivation for this game now securing third and going out on a high in the Premier League?
“Yes, I think it has to be the routine, that winning attitude has to be always there in every game. Every training game has that routine, so bring it on the pitch.”

I appreciate it’s very soon but is there any news on Antony or Luke Shaw?
“No, I can’t tell in this moment. It’s too soon, it was a short night.”

How are you going to balance the desire to finish third and keeping players fresh and fit for the cup final?
“It’s one week. It’s about being third but, of course, we have to manage the squad. It’s not only about 11 players, it’s about the squad. If we want to win third place, if we want to win the cup then, of course, we need the squad. So we need to look at that and make the right choices.”

It was good to see Kobbie Mainoo and Dan Gore receive their Academy Player of the Year awards on the pitch at half-time. They’ve trained with the first team at times this season - have they and the other youngsters who have worked with the group at Carrington impressed you?
“Yeah they did well, they deserved it and that is always what has to be the case. Like Alejandro Garnacho, last season, you see the path is open but they have to deserve their position. I hope this trophy will motivate them and stimulate them to bring more because that is necessary if you want to get a place in the first team, the first squad, of this club.”

Fulham were our opponents in that extraordinary FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford in March, when they received three red cards and we turned the game around - do you feel that game will be a motivating factor for them?
“I think absolutely, but it’s always the case. Every team who is facing Man United is extra motivated. We see it always when we see the physical outputs. Every team gives their best, gives 100 per cent. What they can’t do against other opponents, they can't [can] do against Manchester United. We always have to bring more than the opponent. We are looking forward to Sunday. It’s the last game in the league, in front of our home fans, and we have to win.”

One of your big mottos is ‘good is not good enough’. We scored four times against Chelsea but could have perhaps had double that with the opportunities we created. Is that something you want to see improve going forward, that clinical edge in front of goal?
“Yeah, it’s one of our objectives for next season: that we have to be more clinical. We create a lot of chances but be fair: yesterday we also conceded a lot of chances. It was a really open game. I think it was a fantastic game as a fan to watch, also for neutrals. We play in the Theatre of Dreams and yesterday, [it] definitely [was].”

Last night was our 40th win in all competitions, only the fifth time the club has ever achieved that! Win on Sunday and you would equal our all-time record for the most home victories in a season. How much is that an extra incentive?
“Absolutely and I think it tells something about our season, as a squad and as a team, that we did a lot things very well. A lot of positives in this season, but I think still it’s no time to evaluate the season. We have two games to go, we have to secure third place and then we have to secure the FA Cup.”