Teenager Ayden Heaven hailed Manchester United’s collective resilience and top-four potential following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle that moved the club up to fifth in the table.
Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven insists the club “belong in Europe” following a gritty 1-0 Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United.
A spectacular first-half volley from Patrick Dorgu secured the win at Old Trafford, marking United’s second clean sheet of the Premier League season.
Despite the absence of captain Bruno Fernandes and facing 16 shots, the Red Devils moved into fifth place, trailing fourth-placed Chelsea only on goal difference.
The match saw Ruben Amorim depart from his signature back-three system for the first time, opting for a traditional back four.
Heaven, who earned Man of the Match honors, praised the team’s adaptability under the head coach.
He noted, “The manager, we play loads of formations with him, whatever he does, we know it’s going to work.” Heaven added, “We want to even push for the top four, possibly win the league, anything’s possible.”
Amorim admitted the performance was far from perfect, as United recorded their lowest possession stats of the season at just 33.4%.
Newcastle dominated the second half, but a disciplined defensive display held the Magpies at bay.
“I think we suffered together, and we managed to win the game,” Amorim stated.
The manager also confirmed Mason Mount’s half-time withdrawal was precautionary, as he seeks to protect a squad already thinned by injuries and international absences.