Nemanja Matic targets Premier League glory next season as Manchester United continue to improve

United were 11 points short of the top four when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over but went fourth with a win against Fulham, and Matic believes a similar run of results to start the season next year will make them title challengers

Nemanja Matic believes Manchester United’s resurgent form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes them contenders to win the Premier League title next season.

Their 3-0 win against Fulham was the 10th win in 11 matches under Solskjaer and took United into the top four, something that Jose Mourinho said would take a ‘miracle’.

Anthony Martial’s stunning solo goal between Paul Pogba’s strikes at Craven Cottage on Saturday put United right back into the hunt for Champions League football next season after a long time spent outside the top four.

Mourinho left United 11 points shy of fourth but they have now moved ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea since Solskjaer took over, prompting Matic to consider what they can achieve next season with a longer run of results.

"To win the league you need to win the games like we did in the last seven, eight games," said Matic, who won the Premier League twice with Chelsea.

"So you need to win six, seven games in a row, then you can drop some points, to draw, to lose one game.

"But we have to continue, we have to continue like this. We have to learn always, and this is the way to play.

Nemanja Matic praised the new manager's positivity (Getty)

"This is the way to fight so if we play like this for the next season then we will be one of the teams who is going to fight for the title."

United’s silverware hopes this season lie in the FA Cup and Champions League as they enter a crucial set of fixtures that will test Sollskjaer’s renewed side.

United host Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 this week before going to Stamford Bridge a week later to take on Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Solskjaer said the win against Fulham was ideal preparation for PSG as he continues to keep a good mood in the team.

"He's always positive," Matic said. "Of course, when we don't play well, of course he needs to shout a little bit.

"But he's the same - always positive. The same when I see him in the press conference, he's like this with us also in the changing room."