ETH knows race for Euro spot is as much about cash as prestige

ERIK ten Hag admits he doesn’t know how significant the impact will be on his transfer budget if United fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League – but said the club will have more ‘financial power’ if they do secure a return to the top table of European football.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

PREVIEW: ASTON VILLA V UNITED

VILLA PARK

TODAY 4.30PM

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS

United crashed out of Europe entirely before Christmas this season and faces an uphill battle to secure a second successive season of Champions League football, with today’s trip to Villa Park pivotal in their fight to get back in the race for a top-four finish.

Fifth could yet be good enough for Champions League football if the Premier League finishes the season as one of the two top-performing leagues in Europe, but Ten Hag’s side are six points behind Tottenham, who currently sit fifth, and eight points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth.