Ralf Rangnick has finally conceded that Manchester United won’t finish in the top four this season, which means yet another season outside the Champions League for the Reds.
Manchester United’s hopes of qualifying for the tournament have been left in tatters after back-to-back defeats and the interim manager, who has remained hopeful despite United’s broken form, has now admitted that their chase is over.
The defeat at the Emirates Stadium leaves United six points behind Arsenal with one more game played, and with Tottenham also above United, only a miracle would save United’s blushes.
"Pretty sure for me even before that game it was not very likely, but after this result top four is gone."
Ralf Rangnick pulled no punches on a disappointing day for Man Utd.
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— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 23, 2022
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“Pretty sure,” he bluntly told BT Sport, as seen above, when the reporter asked if top four was gone. “Even before that game that was not very likely but after today’s result, the top four is gone, yes.”
SN’s verdict…
It’s never nice for the manager to admit that there’s nothing to play for with four games of the season remaining – it brings back bad memories for United particularly, with the 2018/19 season ending in a similar fashion.
We all know what the last couple of games of that season were like and despite the improvement in performance today, United fans are unlikely to be treated with good football for the run-in.
Now, it’s simply a waiting game as Erik ten Hag fulfills his commitments at Ajax before taking the reigns at Old Trafford – he’s got quite the job on his hands.