Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven says the club is firmly back in contention for European football after their 4–1 victory over Wolves on Monday night.
The win at Molineux moved United to within a point of the Premier League top four, boosting their hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
United bounced back from a disappointing draw with West Ham, with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice and Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount also on target. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde briefly equalised for Wolves, ending the league’s longest goal drought since October 26.
The team’s resurgence comes after a difficult 2024/25 campaign in which United finished 15th — their lowest league position in more than five decades — and missed out on Europe following a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Heaven, 19, said the squad was determined to make amends. “We dropped points in the last game and this was our chance to redeem ourselves. We did that, especially in the second half,” he said.
He added that manager Ruben Amorim urged the players at half-time to “do what we can do,” a message they responded to strongly.
United have now lost just once in nine matches — a shock defeat to 10-man Everton — a run that has lifted confidence in the dressing room. “I don’t think anyone can stop us when we play like this,” Heaven said.
On the possibility of returning to Europe, he added: “Hopefully we can be in Europe next season, which I think we’ll do. That’s where Manchester United belong.”
Heaven has featured in back-to-back matches due to injuries to Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt and said he is grateful for Amorim’s faith. “He’s trusting me a lot. I’m working hard every day and showing he can trust me.”
United host Bournemouth in their next Premier League fixture on Monday.
