Chris Smalling believes Manchester United can challenge for the Premier League title next season following Wednesday’s Europa League victory.
A deflected Paul Pogba strike and a clever effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed a 2-0 win over Ajax to allow the Red Devils to complete the set of major trophies available to them at Stockholm’s Friends Arena.
The result has helped add some gloss to a mixed first campaign for Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, having also won the EFL Cup and finishing sixth in the table.
Wednesday’s triumph will see them go straight into the group stages of next year’s Champions League and with a busy summer in the transfer market on the horizon, it could be an interesting upcoming 12 months for the club.
Mourinho claimed the title in the second season of both of his spells at Chelsea and the game at the Friends Arena once again showed he knows how to win the big matches.
Smalling believes Wednesday’s triumph may prove to be the start of something big for his side.
When quizzed about a potential title challenge, the England international replied: “Yeah, I think it’s just that consistency. We’re teeing ourselves up for a good pre-season and who knows next year?”
Manchester United are currently priced as the 4.33 second favourites to win the title in 2017-18, with local rivals City leading the market at 3.25 and reigning champions Chelsea 4.50.
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