Nemanja Matic believes Manchester United can challenge for the Premier League title, claiming that, for the Red Devils, "every game is the game of our lives".
United came from behind to win 3-2 at bottom club Sheffield United on Thursday to move within two points of second-place Tottenham, with a game in hand.
Two goals from Marcus Rashford and one from Anthony Martial saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side become just the fourth team in English top-flight history to record 10 consecutive away league wins.
They have also scored at least twice in 10 away league matches, the longest such run in the top tier since Spurs did so in October 1960.
United would be just two points behind leaders Liverpool if they win their match in hand against Burnley and, although they have won just one of their past eight league games at Old Trafford, Matic is confident they can battle the champions for glory.
10 - Manchester United are the fourth side in English top-flight history to record 10 consecutive away league wins, after Spurs (10 between April & October 1960), Chelsea (11 between April & December 2008) and Manchester City (11 between May & December 2017). Marching. pic.twitter.com/KErNCybCN3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 17, 2020
"Yeah I think so," he told United media when asked if United can win a first league title since 2013.
"I always say if you want to win a title, you have to win five or six consecutive games - then you can drop some points in maybe one or two games. Then you have to win five or six games again to win the league.
"We have to forget the game [against Sheffield United] and focus for the next one. For us, every game is a final. Every game is the game of our lives for us. I believe that we can do something."
Solskjaer's men fell behind at Bramall Lane when David McGoldrick scored following an error from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, but they recovered to move 3-1 ahead through Rashford and Martial.
Rashford's second proved pivotal given McGoldrick bundled in with three minutes of normal time remaining to set up a nervy finish.
5 - All five of Marcus Rashford's Premier League goals this season have come away from Old Trafford; this is the most scored by any player in the 2020-21 competition without any coming at home. Journeyman. pic.twitter.com/Q6pVIfbWkd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 17, 2020
"Up front, they played some amazing football," Matic said of his attacking team-mates. "We scored very nice goals, but that's exactly what we expect from them.
"That's why they are Man United players: they have to decide the games; they have to make the game easier for us to score goals and to create, so I'm not surprised."
