Mason Mount has issued a clear rallying cry to his Manchester United teammates, insisting the club must now set their sights firmly on a top-four Premier League finish. The midfielder's declaration comes on the back of a crucial comeback victory against Crystal Palace, a win he personally sealed with a decisive goal.
Mount's Selhurst Park Heroics and Champions League Ambition
The England international proved to be the match-winner for the Red Devils in their trip to Selhurst Park on Saturday. After Joshua Zirkzee had cancelled out Palace's opener, it was Mount who fired home from a cleverly worked short free-kick by Bruno Fernandes to secure a 2-1 victory.
That result lifted Manchester United to seventh in the table, now just three points adrift of the coveted Champions League qualification places. Speaking after the final whistle, Mount made it clear that bridging that gap is the immediate objective for Ruben Amorim's squad.
"It's been up and down but I think we are in a lot better place, not just me personally but as a group, and we really need to kick on now and win more games," Mount stated. "That's the most important thing now. A difficult result last game [vs Everton] but to come back and win today was massively important. Yeah, it's time to really kick on and shoot for those top four positions."
United Crowned Premier League's Set-Piece Kings
While the chase for the top four is ongoing, United have already claimed one notable title this campaign. Mount's strike against Palace was the team's tenth Premier League goal from a set-piece situation this season, a tally that puts them level with league leaders Arsenal at the summit of this particular statistic.
The midfielder expressed his personal delight at contributing from a dead-ball situation and emphasised its growing importance in the modern game. "I love being in those situations and you don't always get that many chances in a game, especially in the Premier League," he explained. "So when that chance is there it's about taking that chance... How big set pieces are in the game now… yeah, for me hitting the target I'm very buzzing to see it hit the back of the net."
Amorim's Philosophy on Dead-Ball Dominance
Mount is not the only figure at Old Trafford preaching the gospel of set-piece proficiency. Manager Ruben Amorim has consistently highlighted the critical role of rehearsed routines in a league where margins are notoriously fine.
The Portuguese coach has previously argued that neglecting this aspect of preparation is tantamount to surrendering before a ball is kicked. "It’s so important in our league because it's hard to play against every opponent," Amorim said. "You can sense throw-ins, free-kicks, corners, to score a goal and open the game to give confidence to the team. In the Premier League, if you don’t work on set pieces, you are losing the game already."
United will be aiming to leverage this strength and build momentum with a busy schedule ahead. The team faces West Ham at home on Thursday evening, followed by a Monday night fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who currently sit at the foot of the table.
