Manchester United returned to the Champions League with a 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea

Manchester United returned to the Champions League with a 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday.

Goals from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford ensured victory, meaning Erik ten Hag is sure to finish in the top four in the Premier League in his first year at the club.

Before the last game of the season, United had risen to third place and were two points ahead of Newcastle.

United needed a point in their last two games to secure promotion to the Champions League and took the lead in the sixth minute when Casemiro headed a Christian Eriksen free-kick.

Mikhail Mudryk was supposed to give Chelsea the lead before then, but the $108 million contract signing was completely blown away and only goalkeeper David de Gea could beat him.

Martial doubled United’s lead in stoppage time in the first half to keep the home side in control before half-time.

Fernandes added a third penalty in 73rd after being knocked down by Wesley Fofana.

Matters worsened for Fofana and Chelsea when an inappropriate pass from a defender was caught and substitute Rashford added a fourth five minutes later.

Another substitute, Alejandro Garnacho, hit the crossbar late as United went looking for another.

Chelsea substitute Joao Felix scored a consolatory goal in 89th, but it was another miserable night for the Londoners, who have now lost eight of their 10 games under interim manager Frank Lampard.

One of United’s problems was an injury to Anthony in the first half, who looked upset as he left the field on a stretcher.