Man Utd star opens up on 'massive pressure' riding on Real Sociedad clash | OneFootball

Christian Eriksen has admitted there is huge "pressure" on Manchester United ahead of Thursday night's Europa League clash with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.

Out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, with victory in the latter last season being their route into Europe this season, United's lowly league position is unlikely to result in qualification for any continental competition amid struggles for consistency and with only ten games remaining.

But the club is still active in this season's Europa League, boasting a very slight advantage after last week's 1-1 draw in the last-16 first leg. Going all the way and lifting the trophy in May would result in qualification for next season's Champions League as a reward.

Speaking via The Guardian, Eriksen called it a "massive" game as Real Sociedad visit.

"We know the pressure, we know the situation we're in in the league. To get into Europe next season we have to win a lot of games in the league or go through the Europa League, so we know there's a lot of pressure on that game.

"But it also comes with being at this club. You play for trophies so we have to play well to go through. [Europe] is where [United] belong, but we don't belong in the lower half of the Premier League either. We will try to do our best to get up the league, we're not in a position we want to be in.

"We want to be higher. We're at United, so we have to be higher. But in the end the ball is still rolling on the pitch so we have to focus on the football and look at the table hopefully at the end of the season when we end up higher."

United have previously experienced the benefits of winning the Europa League. Jose Mourinho's side finished sixth in the 2016/17 Premier League season, seven points adrift of the top four, but lifted Europe's secondary club trophy to secure Champions League qualification instead.