07 February 2023 , 11:16
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Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United will finish third in the Premier League this season.
The Red Devils are currently third in the table - three points behind Manchester City in second and two points ahead of Newcastle in fourth. Erik ten Hag's side look set to qualify for the Champions League, although they still have 17 Premier League fixtures to fulfil.
United, who have not won a trophy since May 2017, are enjoying a revival under Ten Hag this season. They have reached the knockout stages of the Europa League and the final of the Carabao Cup - taking on Newcastle in the latter competition on February 26.
Ferdinand has been impressed by what he has seen from Ten Hag's side and believes they will comfortably secure Champions League football. "I think Man Utd will finish in the top four quite comfortably now," the former United skipper told William Hill.
"A lot of the other clubs around them aren’t being as consistent as them, while United have been picking up results. They’re still a bit off Arsenal and Man City, but I can see United finishing in that third spot in the Premier League this season, tying that up and really making that position their own."
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United struggled under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick last season, as they finished sixth in the Premier League and failed to challenge for silverware. Yet Ten Hag has reinvented the team in his image and fans are confident of success again.
Erik ten Hag has made a promising start to his Manchester United career (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)Do you think Manchester United will be successful under Erik ten Hag? Let us know in the comments below!
The former Ajax manager has said goodbye to many household names - including Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Cristiano Ronaldo - and brought in the likes of Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Wout Weghorst and Antony.
United are far from the finished article - sitting eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal having played a game more - but Ferdinand believes they are moving in the right direction. He is also believes they will be confident after their Carabao Cup run.
"Having qualified for the League [Carabao] Cup final last week, that should give United plenty of confidence going into the coming games, knowing they have that to look forward to," added Ferdinand] Players will now be playing for their position as everyone wants to play in a final, so no player can afford to drop their form or take their foot off the gas.
"Every game is an audition now to get in that starting XI. So I’m sure all of them will be going for their positions and hoping to start in the final, which will raise competition in the team."
United will be without star midfielder Casemiro for their next three games against Leeds (twice) and Leicester after his red card against Crystal Palace. That gives Fred, Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer the chance to make an impression ahead of the final.
Casemiro is almost certain to return to United's starting XI for the final after serving his ban, although Eriksen will not be involved after suffering an ankle injury against Reading in the FA Cup last month. The Denmark international is expected to be out until April.