MANCHESTER, April 28 — Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Brentford on Monday put them on the ‌brink of Champions League qualification but ​interim manager Michael Carrick said they must keep pushing to finish as high up the Premier ‌League table as possible.

The victory lifted United to third ​place on 61 points, 11 clear of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, with four games remaining.

With the top five qualifying for the Champions ​League next season, United need two more points to seal their return to Europe’s elite competition after a two-year absence.

“The Champions League is one thing, but it’s not something that we should be over-celebrating either,” former ‌United midfielder Carrick told reporters.

“We want to be finishing ⁠high up the league really, ⁠and we want to be challenging ⁠high up in the league ⁠and trying ⁠to get more points so our season doesn’t get to a close when that happens.

“We have put ourselves in ⁠good position, but there’s still more work to be done,” added Carrick, who took charge in January with United in sixth spot after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.

Casemiro was on the scoresheet on Monday and while supporters have called on the ⁠club to keep him for another year, Carrick said the midfielder’s situation was clear.

“From both sides it’s pretty ⁠clear. Probably the situation and the clarity of it has helped ⁠everything,” ⁠he added.

“It means a lot to him and credit to him ​because of the situation that ​it is, he’s given absolutely everything ‌as well and had some big ​moments for us.”

United next ​face fourth-placed Liverpool on Sunday. — Reuters

MANCHESTER, April 28 — Manchester United moved within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League as Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko sealed a 2-1 win against Brentford on Monday.

Casemiro put United ahead in the early stages at Old Trafford and Sesko doubled their lead before the interval.

Mathias Jensen’s late strike couldn’t stop United cementing their grip on third place in the Premier League.

They are 11 points clear of sixth-placed Brighton, with the top five guaranteed to reach next season’s Champions League.

Michael Carrick’s side need just two points from their last four matches to ensure their return to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2023-24.

On Sunday, United host bitter rivals Liverpool, who sit three points behind them in fourth, in a clash that will go a long way to deciding who finishes third.

Interim boss Carrick, who replaced the sacked Ruben Amorim in January, is still waiting to discover if he will land the United job on a permanent basis.

The former United midfielder has made a strong case by steadying the ship after Amorim’s turbulent reign.

Leading United into the Champions League would be another persuasive argument as co-owner Jim Ratcliffe considers his options.

A 1-0 win at Chelsea in their previous match had reinvigorated United’s top-five charge after a home defeat against Leeds and a draw at Bournemouth.

Brentford last won at Old Trafford in 1937 and they paid the price for a slow start on their latest fruitless visit.

Casemiro strikes again

Kobbie Mainoo scythed through the Brentford defence with a superb run in the second minute, but Amad Diallo wasted the chance with a close-range shot that was cleared off the line by Sepp van den Berg.

Harry Maguire was inches away from marking his return from suspension with a goal when the United defender’s towering header was clawed off the line by Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

United’s pressure was rewarded in the 11th minute as Casemiro finished off a well-worked corner routine.

Bruno Fernandes whipped the set-piece to Maguire and his looping header evaded a gaggle of Brentford defenders at the far post as Casemiro rose highest to head home from an acute angle.

Casemiro’s fourth goal in his last six games underlined the enduring value of the veteran Brazil midfielder, who is set to leave when his contract expires at the end of this season.

He celebrated by kissing the badge on his shirt as United fans implored him to stay by chanting “one more year”.

Michael Kayode nearly silenced the love-in with a header that United keeper Senne Lammens pushed away at full stretch.

Igor Thiago’s muscular power was a thorn in United’s side but the Brazilian couldn’t finish, scuffing one chance under pressure from Diogo Dalot before Kelleher saved his close-range drive.

Ayden Heaven’s last-ditch attempt to deny Thiago almost ended in an own goal, but Lammens spared the United teenager’s blushes with a fine save.

United took advantage of those misses to double their advantage in the 43rd minute.

Diallo’s determination to win a tackle deep inside his own half started the move before Fernandes drove towards the Brentford area, slipping a pass to Sesko, who lashed home from 10 yards.

Fernandes has 19 assists this season as he chases the Premier League record of 20 in a single campaign set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

United were less dominant in the second half and Jensen whipped an eye-catching curler past Lammens from 20 yards in the 87th minute to set up a tense finale.

Carrick’s men wobbled but just about held firm as Mikkel Damsgaard’s header was clutched by Lammens in stoppage-time. — AFP