Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that his side need to improve their work "out of possession" in order to become a successful outfit.
The 20-time English champions can finish this season with a trophy, as they are preparing to tackle Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup at the end of May.
However, a disappointing Premier League campaign has left them in sixth position in the table, 13 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit with a game in hand on Unai Emery's side.
Man United beat Sheffield United 4-2 in the Premier League on Wednesday night, and the team's attacking output has been impressive in recent weeks, scoring at least twice in each of their last five matches.
Ten Hag said that he has been pleased with the team's development this season in terms of their attacking play, but the Dutchman has conceded that there is still much to work on.
Erik ten Hag pleased with Man United's attacking progression
"That is especially [what we have to work on], out-of-possession stuff. Out of possession we have to be better organised and we have to be better disciplined, we have to play with a higher intensity," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference on Friday.
"Then we have to keep doing that stuff in possession because I think we [have] made huge progress in this season, in possession and with attacking transitions.
"We have scored so many goals and you can see the difference between the first half of the season and the second half of the season. We have really developed our attacking way of play.
"Most important has been the back four, we haven't been sustainable. Every time we have had to make a risk and there have been so many different partnerships, so many times we have made switches there.
"So many changes there in the backline swapping full-backs and there we have our problems. But also there, our attacking players have to contribute more. More disciplined, put more pressure on the ball and making better runs.
Man United will welcome Burnley to Old Trafford on Saturday
"We are in a position in the season with so many setbacks and when you don't have the players available, you cannot put in the performance levels you target. That is the truth and I think many fans understand that this is the case and we can do better.
"But still, also, last year we were quite successful and we had good momentum. This year, we are less successful but we are again in a final and that is a good performance and it is where we want to be, to be in the position to win silverware."
Man United will be aiming to make it successive league wins when they welcome Burnley to Old Trafford on Saturday, but Ten Hag is expecting a tough game against Vincent Kompany's side, who have lost just one of their last seven matches in England's top flight.
"They play high intensity football. They changed a little bit their approach during the season, I think now they are in survival mode and they do pretty well. You can see the development in the last couple of games as they have got a good couple of results. They are hard to beat and all the compliments to Vincent and his staff," said the Red Devils head coach.
The 20-time English champions will take on Crystal Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (H) and Brighton & Hove Albion (A) in their final four league matches of the season. body check tags ::
