Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven has confidently asserted the team's potential to secure European football next season following their dominant 4-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux on Monday. The win propelled the Red Devils to sixth place in the Premier League, intensifying their pursuit of a top-four finish.
Heaven, a 19-year-old who has recently broken into the first team, has started in the club's last two Premier League games. Despite being substituted at halftime during the West Ham game, Heaven retained his position in the starting XI against Wolves and delivered a much-improved performance. He expressed his gratitude for the manager's trust, stating, "There's so many great defenders at this club that he's trusting you to be at the middle of that defense. He's trusting me a lot".
The match against Wolves saw Manchester United overcome a first-half equalizer to secure a comfortable win. Bruno Fernandes scored twice, while Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount also found the net. Despite Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's goal bringing the score to 1-1 at halftime, United responded strongly in the second half. Mbeumo restored the lead following a counter-attack, and Mount extended it with a volley from a Fernandes cross. Fernandes then sealed the victory with a penalty.
Heaven emphasized the team's determination to bounce back after dropping points in their previous game. He noted the manager's instructions to play to their potential, which they successfully executed, particularly in the second half. He also acknowledged the importance of experienced players around him, stating, "You are not scared to go on the front foot and not scared of what you leave behind either. They're always there when I need them".
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their improved chance creation and goal-scoring ability compared to the previous season. However, he also stressed the need to focus on both scoring and protecting their goal.
The win against Wolves was crucial for Manchester United, bringing them within a point of the top four in the Premier League. However, the team is currently dealing with defensive concerns due to injuries to key players like Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire. Amorim's recent comments suggest that de Ligt's injury may be more complicated than initially anticipated, while Maguire is also sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Despite these injury concerns, Heaven's confidence in the team's ability to qualify for European football reflects the positive atmosphere within the squad following the win against Wolves.
