We’re getting to the end of the season and it’s turning out to be a disappointing one for Manchester United, despite the optimism in the opening weeks of the campaign.
With just over a month left of the season to play, United look highly unlikely to clinch a spot in next season’s Champions League and are at the risk of not being in Europe at all.
Should that be the case, it would be only the second time in the Premier League era United miss out on European football, after failing to do so in the 2013/14 season.
The defeat at Everton last week almost ensured that Champions League is out of reach but former United striker Dimitar Berbatov has remained upbeat and hopes Ralf Rangnick’s side can make a late-season push for that fourth spot.
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“Well, it’s been a difficult season, that’s for sure.” Berbatov is quoted as saying by the official Manchester United website. “That loss against Everton didn’t help, at all. The chance is still there, for sure, but Spurs are leading the chase for the top four.
“Until the end of the season, as we have witnessed before in the past, you never know. So I still hope United will pull together and qualify for the top four. I want to watch United in the Champions League, where they belong, and I still think they have a chance to do that.”
SN’s verdict on the race for top four…
Berbatov’s optimism is great but playing in the Champions League next season looks very unlikely. Rangnick was blunt in his assessment following the 1-0 defeat to Everton, stating that his players didn’t deserve it after playing like they did.
And he’s right. There’s nothing to suggest that United’s form is going to take a turn for the better and with difficult fixtures coming up, it’s probably only going the other way.
