Manchester United: Daley Blind insists top-four finish 'is not out of reach'

United are three points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City having played one more match than their rivals

Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind (Getty)

Daley Blind insists Champions League qualification is not out of reach for Manchester United despite the disheartening defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Juan Mata was sent off for two bookable offences in the space of 158 first-half seconds before Salomón Rondón’s winner left them three points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City having played one more match than their rivals.

Blind, the Netherlands international, has played in several positions under manager Louis van Gaal in his second full season since joining from Ajax in 2014.

United are preparing to face Merseyside foes Liverpool in the Europa League round-of-16 at Anfield this Thursday with the competition’s winners granted a place in next season’s Champions League.

“It's a season with ups and downs,” Blind is quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “We have played many good games but we lost a few as well. The most important thing is that this team sticks together. We have done all season, even when we've had bad results.

“That shows the strength of the dressing room. [A top-four finish] is not out of reach. Still, anything is possible. We have some players coming back now from injuries, which enables us to have a bigger squad again.

“We are still in the race for a trophy and the top four. We can finish strongly and I have a lot of faith in us doing that. If I look to me personally, I feel I've played a good season, a consistent season.”