This club belongs in the Champions League - Ten Hag.

Manchester United boss, Erik Ten Hag, says United are back where they belong, after securing their UEFA Champions League spot following their 4-1 victory over Chelsea.

United are heading back to the UCL after last participating in it in the 2021/22 season.

Ten Hag believes a Champions League spot is a huge achievement considering the competitiveness of the English Premier League.

"It’s really important [to finish in the top four]. This club belongs in the Champions League and it’s not so easy in the Premier League. It’s a tough competition, strong, with a lot of teams competing for that. And we made it, so we make a good season," said Ten Hag as quoted by manutd.com.

Ten Hag, whose Man United revival project seems to be headed towards the right direction, having won the Carabao Cup, and qualified for the UCL, says he is happy at United, and the spirit within the club is good.

The Champions League qualification, specifically, is the most important step for United, according to their boss.

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"I am comfortable here. But I remember after the second game, Brentford, it was tough. But, yeah, I think we construct a team, it's a good spirit.

"We work very good in the training pitch and we get results. We are improving and I think we are in the right direction and we know we are still not there where we want to be, but we are back in the Champions League. That was, I think, a really important step. We had to do it because if you want to be successful, you have to be in the Champions League."

Now that United have made it into the UCL, Ten Hag has set his sights on finishing third in the EPL.

He has highlighted the importance of winning their next match, with Newcastle United breathing down their necks.

"It's important, Sunday,  we still can be third in the league. It's important to keep [our] focus [and] not get injuries as well. So it gives us good goals for Sunday. But also get a [new] home record, in the history [of United], we can get that. So it's going to be an important game. We want to win that game."

Man United plays Fulham in their next match on Sunday 28 May at Old Trafford. Kick-off will be at 17:30.

Humility key to Man City's success - Guardiola.

Manchester City put on a masterclass in the art cutting edge football performance when they defeated Real Madrid to reach the UEFA Champions League final on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.

Humility, is what City boss, Pep Guardiola, believes is the catalyst in his side's success.

Guardiola said because his players are so humble, they can give a 100% effort in every game, no matter the opponent.

“I always put up the example of winning four times the Carabao Cup and that shows the level,” Guardiola told www.mancity.com.

“One of the incredible details of which I am so proud is that they are so humble.

“Every game, it doesn't matter the opponent or competition, they take seriously and that is because they are so humble.

“I hate arrogance in sport and the moments when you believe something you are not.

“These guys have done it for many years and today they got the reward they deserve."

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Guardiola is wary of carrying the favorites tag when they face Inter Milan on June 10.

He said that is the worst thing that can happen.

“We have time. A final against an Italian team and people are going to talk and say they are not favourites, we are favourites, and that is the worst thing that can happen.

“But we have time to prepare and now we focus on Chelsea because we have to try to close it.”

City will turn their attention to the English Premier League this weekend.

They play Chelsea on Sunday 21 May at the Etihad Stadium, with the kick-off at 17:00.

A win will see City clinching the EPL title. 

Incredible City hammers Real 4-0.

Manchester City booked themselves a UEFA Champions League final date with Inter Milan when they made light work of Real Madrid on Wednesday evening at the Etihad Stadium.

A first half Bernardo Silva brace, 23', 37', an own goal from Eder Militao 76', and a cool finish from substitute, Julian Alvarez 90+1, saw Man City run out as 4-0 winners on the night.

If anything, it was City's almost flawless performance in the first half that left Madrid bamboozled.

With 71% of the ball, City barely allowed Real a touch on the ball, and it wasn't just possession for possession's sake, they created great chances too!

But it was Real goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who stood between his side and an embarrassing half time scoreline, by denying Erling Haaland two certain goals from close range headers, before he denied him again in the second half when Haaland was played through with a delightful back heel by Gundogan.

At 2-0, if City were playing another team, one would have said it was over, but they were playing the defending champions, and when it comes to Real, the game is over when it is over.

It wasn't surprising to hear the noise from City supporters subside in the early stages of the second half as Madrid started to see more of the ball, turning possession stats in their favor with 60% of the ball.

One almost expected them to pull a goal back and make a game of it, like they almost always do.

But soon City regained control, and started to keep the ball more around the 70th minute.

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With City looking more threatening again, Manuel Akanji did the lord's work for them, heading past Courtois, with a little deflection from Eder Militao helping the ball to the back of the net to put the game beyond Real.

Game, set, and match, or so we thought, but Julian Alvarez, from the bench, had just about enough time to show Haaland how to slot the ball past Courtois, and he did it with precision.

It was just not a good day in the office for Ancelotti's men, their seven goal attempts, and three shots on target, of which to of them came with the score already 3-0, tell a story.

City were just incredible.

And so it is done. They face Inter Milan on the 10th of June for their second go at the UCL title. 

It doesn’t get much bigger - Akanji on UCL semi-final 2nd leg.

Manchester City will host Real Madrid in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday 17 May at the Etihad Stadium.

With the first leg having ended in a 1-1 draw, City have a slight advantage going into the second leg in Manchester.

Manchester City's Swiss defender, Manual Akanji, says they will have to bring their A-game on Wednesday evening if they are to dispose of the UCL holders, Madrid.

"It’s one game out of two," Akanji told City media after the draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We’ve got to bring our best game next week.

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"We need to defend really well and clear in our attacks. We can’t make any mistakes and be smart."

Akanji says City have been working towards such a moment from the beginning, and is looking forward to a great atmosphere at the Etihad.

"We’ve been working all season long to be in a position like this. It’s a big game - it doesn’t get much bigger.

"The atmosphere should be great - it’s a Champions League semi-final and the last game at home in the competition this season. I’m really looking forward to it."

I don’t think we saw a City side that are superior to Madrid - Carvajal.

If Real Madrid's right-back, Dani Carvajal's words are anything to go by, we can expect a pulsating 90 minutes of football at the Etihad Stadium next week when Manchester City hosts Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

The two European giants put on a great show on Tuesday when they played to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.

The intense action was capped with two stunning goals from Vinicius Jr and Kevin De Bruyne, plus touchline drama to match, as Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti got booked because of protesting against the legitimacy of De Bruyne's goal.

While the result meant Man City have a slight advantage going into the second leg, Carvajal thinks otherwise.

Carvajal says the City they played on Tuesday was in no way better than Real, and that if they go to the Etihad, take the chances they create, they have a shot at reaching the final.

"They have world-class players, they move the ball very well, they’re tactically very well worked – but I don’t think we saw a City side that are superior to Madrid," said Carvajal as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/dani-carvajal-real-madrid-have-nothing-to-fear-in-second-leg-at-manchester-city

"The team goes home knowing that we played well and that if we get things right, if we take our chances in Manchester, we have a chance of going through.

"We go there with nothing to fear. We have to go there to win, to play our game, and the team believes in it."

Real have every right to go to the Etihad with nothing to fear, and believing they can win.

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They are a team with enough talent, determination, steel, and tactically astute. On top of that, winning the UCL has become their core business, they know what it takes and how it is done.

A surprise it will not be if they make Man City look ordinary next week, and go on to yet another UCL final. 

Grealish, Guardiola believe City can finish Real at home.

An epic battle was expected, and the two sides did not disappoint when Real Madrid and Manchester City played to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu in a Uefa Champions League semi-final.

The breathtaking football played by the sides was matched by two rockets for goals, with Vinicius Jr finishing from the edge of the box to put Madrid ahead after a swift counterattack in the 36th minute.

Kevin De Bruyne was not to be outdone as he replied for Man City with a stunner of his own in the 67th minute to level matters.

The result has set up a mouth watering second leg encounter at the Etihad, a game that Man City winger, Jack Grealish, and manager, Pep Guardiola, believe they have every chance of winning.

"We have a new team this year, different players," Grealish told BT Sports as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/we-feel-unstoppable-at-home-jack-grealish-eyes-champions-league-final

"We've learned so much since last year. Now we have the perfect balance of experience and a few youngsters who are just world-class.

"I think we just have quality and I've never felt so confident going on to the pitch and having these players around me.

"Within ourselves at the Etihad, we feel unstoppable there. We came here to try and win, but it shows our character to go a goal down – it's always difficult to play at a place like this.

"In the end I think it was a fair result. They had their chances, we had a few as well."

Man City manager, Guardiola, says the return leg at home will be like a final for their supporters, and it is a game they are looking forward to.

"It was a really tight game. Congratulations to the team because this team (Real) are always so difficult for their history and also their quality.

"We started really well and when we were better they made an incredible transition (and scored).

"When they were better than us in the second half, we scored. It's open to Manchester, it will be a final for our people and we look forward to it."

While a 1-1 away draw gives City an advantage for next week's encounter, you can count on Real to put on another tactical masterclass to come out of the Etihad victorious.

On the other hand, the Uefa Champions League is one trophy Guardiola and his City side will move mountains to get their hands on, and Carlo Ancelotti's men are the mountain almost immovable when it comes to the UCL.

Whether City can do it is anyone's guess, but one thing that is clear as daylight, is another spectacle coming our way next week.