Manchester United are in a battle to finish in the top four this season after the derby defeat to Manchester City, according to Ander Herrera.
The midfielder is targeting back-to-back victories over Crystal Palace and Southampton after the international break in a bid to close the gap before the hectic winter fixture list.
United, eighth in the table, are seven points adrift of Tottenham in fourth following the 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium and Herrera has said the focus now is to get back into the Champions League places.
"I have already been checking the next few weeks -- we have Palace at home and Southampton away and there are some games between the top six teams," the Spaniard told MUTV. "If we want to be in the top four soon, we have to win the next games."
Herrera also said the international break has come at the wrong time for United, who will have to wait 13 days to face Palace at Old Trafford.
The break will give United boss Jose Mourinho time to address his team's problems -- including shipping 21 goals after just 12 league games for the first time since 1966.
"If we could choose now, we would play in three days for sure, but now there is time to think [about] what we did good and what we did bad -- but not too much," Herrera said. "Football gives you an opportunity soon.
"It's sad that the opportunity will be in two weeks and not two days, but if we want to be in the top four soon, then Palace and Southampton are two key games.
"There are things we will take from [the derby] and things we need to improve, but there is no time to cry. We're already thinking about Crystal Palace."