Juan Mata feels Manchester United have taken huge strides this season towards restoring their status as one of the top clubs in Europe.

Manchester United have managed to claw their way back into the Champions League after spending just one season out of the competition.




While a fourth place finish was their minimum target, the players understand that they need to push on next season to win trophies and Mata admits that the progress they have made this season was important towards restoring their status as one of the top dogs in England and Europe.

He stressed that their task was easier said than done as the squad had to adapt to Louis van Gaal’s system and bed in a number of new faces who joined the club last summer.
 


"I think this season was a big step towards where this club deserves to be”, Mata told the club’s official website.

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“We had a new manager with a new philosophy and we brought in new players.

“Next season we will hopefully play in the Champions League, which is a massive objective for the club, and we’ll be trying to win trophies."

Manchester United will travel to the US for their pre-season tour in July before returning to England for the start of the new campaign on 8th August.

They will need to negotiate a playoff tie early into their season to earn their place in the Champions League group stage.

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