Erik ten Hag issues rallying cry for Manchester United players to be in place for title charge in April

Erik ten Hag has called on his players to be within striking distance of the Premier League title when April comes around, and then they can go on and win it.

Thursday night ended a good week for Manchester United, as they performed brilliantly to draw 2-2 with Barcelona in the Europa League.

Marcus Rashford continued his excellent goal scoring form, to become the first United player to score at the Nou Camp since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Champions League winning goal in 1999.

Earlier in the week, rivals Manchester City defeated Arsenal, leaving Ten Hag's side just five points off the top of the table pair, themselves now only separated by goal difference.

Following the draw with Barca, Ten Hag has revealed that he wants his team to remain in a similar position by April, in order to make a challenge for the title, as you can hear in the video below.

Asked about getting back into the Champions League, based on their performance in Spain, the manager said, "We are in the right direction, but we have to fight for it.

"That is two ways. One is the Europa League. And the other one is the Premier League. So we know what to do. And we have to see it from game to game, and to fight and to get in to get back in the Champions League."

And asked about the title race he answered, "We don't think about so far what is what we have to do is to put us in April in right position."

Before added, "So our thinking can only be on the next game always have to be better at the previous game. And think about game for game, put that energy and focus in."

United may well see the weekend's game with Leicester City as another chance to catch up with Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta's side coming up against his predecessor, Unai Emery, who now manages Aston Villa.

The 3-1 loss to City on Wednesday night means the Gunners have only picked up one point from their past three outings, a draw with Brentford.

Rashford scored once again against Barcelona. Image: Alamy

Ten Hag's thoughts that his side only need to be in striking distance come April may hold some truth, considering their run in at the end of the campaign.

They'll look relatively favourably on a run in their final five games that sees them play Villa, West Ham, Wolves, Bournemouth and Fulham, though they must face Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in three of their five games before that.

The Dutchman isn't the only one who thinks his team can enjoy success this season, with United legend Paul Scholes backing the team to win four trophies.

Whilst the former Ajax boss and Scholes might still be eyeing up the side's chances of lifting the league trophy this year, Stuart Pearce reckons it'll take till next season instead.