Bruno Fernandes has made the bizarre claim that no one believed Manchester United would finish inside the top six this season.

Erik ten Hag‘s side are currently on course to finish inside the top four, though there is still work to do to make sure they don’t fall out of the Champions League qualification spots behind Liverpool.

There has been improvement from last season where the Red Devils finished sixth after a miserable season in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick were unable to get the best out of the side.

Despite Ten Hag’s arrival, as well as their record £220m summer spend, Fernandes has claimed that everyone thought they would move backwards from their league position last year.

He told Sky Sports: ‘I think we have such a great team that has been doing a great job this season when no one thought Man United could be fighting for the top four.

Bruno Fernandes has claimed that no-one believed Manchester United would finish inside the top six this season – meaning they would have gone backwards from last season

His claim comes despite Manchester United spending £220m last summer with the likes of five-time Champions League winner Casemiro and Antony arriving at Old Trafford

A finish outside the top-six would have meant that Erik ten Hag would have taken the Red Devils backwards from their poor season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick

‘We know everyone is now saying, “Oh Man United has been great”, but I remember in the beginning of the season no one put our team in the top six so I think it is a good surprise for them but not for us.

‘We knew that we could be there, we know that we could be even higher in the league.

‘We had our moments and that’s why we’re in the position of fighting for the top four and not bigger things. But I think soon, this club, these players will be fighting for much bigger things.’

Manchester United were expected to improve on last season after their busy transfer window last summer.

Five-time Champions League winner Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Christian Eriksen and Tyrrell Malacia all joined the Red Devils and have improved their squad and many believed the Red Devils would be in the fight for the top four.

The Red Devils are currently on course to finish fourth, though could drop behind Liverpool if they fail to win two of their four remaining Premier League games this season

They have held a Champions League spot for the majority of the season, though recent defeats to Brighton and West Ham has allowed Liverpool to close the gap to one point.

Ten Hag’s side though do still have a game-in-hand over their biggest rivals, and as long as they win three of their final four matches they will be guaranteed a top-four spot.

United could open the gap to Jurgen Klopp’s side to four points against Wolves on Saturday, before Liverpool travel to relegation strugglers Leicester City on Monday.

Source: dailymail.co.uk