Roy Keane tells Man Utd one thing they must do to secure Champions League football

Roy Keane insists consistency will be the key to Manchester United securing a place in next season's Champions League after seeing Aston Villa drop points on Sunday.

United saw the gap between them and fourth-place Villa close to eight points, following Saturday's 2-0 win at home to Everton. Erik ten Hag's side rode their luck but first-half penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford ensured they returned to winning ways.

On Sunday, a poor Villa side were picked apart by Tottenham, eventually falling to 10-men and losing 4-0. It keeps United within touching distance of their top-four rivals but Keane has urged them to focus on stringing together their own results.

“I think that confidence [at Tottenham], that momentum when you have players coming off the bench scoring goals. That feel-good factor that goes into winning games of football,” Keane told Sky Sports. “It’s a setback for Villa and a big result for Spurs. 

“I’m not sure [whether United can make it] really, we’re talking about top-four or top-five but the main thing for United is to be consistent and to keep winning football matches, and hoping they [Tottenham  and Villa] slip up obviously. If that fifth place is available…I think it’s a bit of a stretch to catch Villa for fourth. They have to keep winning football matches.”

Whether a top-five place will be sufficient for Champions League football remains to be seen, with the Premier League currently not on course to get an extra spot for the revamped and expanded version of Europe's flagship competition. That could change between now and summer, however, if English side's do well in Europe this season.

United remain six points away from Tottenham, who are currently occupying fifth-spot, with both winning over the weekend. Ange Postecoglou's side could extend that gap to nine this weekend against Fulham with United in FA Cup action and therefore not playing in the Premier League.