The Red Devils have a one point advantage over rivals Liverpool in the battle to reach Europe's elite competition next season - having played a game fewer than the Merseyside club - and Fernandes thinks a top four finish would be a just reward for the team's efforts this term.

He told Sky Sports: "We want Champions League football. This club deserves it, this club has to be in that position.

"I think these players deserve to be there, too, because we have such a great team that has been doing a great job this season when no one thought Man Utd could be fighting for the top four."

United have made progress in their first season under manager Erik ten Hag and Fernandes believes the club have a platform in place to challenge for "bigger things" in the future.

The playmaker said: "We know everyone is now saying, 'Oh Man Utd has been great', but I remember in the beginning of the season no one put our team in the top six so I think it is a good surprise for them but not for us. We knew that we could be there, we know that we could be even higher in the league.

"We had our moments and that's why we're in the position of fighting for the top four and not bigger things. But I think soon, this club, these players will be fighting for much bigger things."