The Red Devils are three places better off than where they were when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed.
Manchester United’s fear of failing to qualify for the Champions League was probably one of the reasons they sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
While results have arguably been a little more consistent since Solskjaer’s exit in November, United are still struggling.
The 20-time English champions are in fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-placed West Ham. But sixth-placed Arsenal and eighth-placed Tottenham both have two games in hand. Wolves, meanwhile, are only three points adrift in seventh – plus a game in hand.
At the time of Solskjaer’s dismissal on November 21, United were in eighth and six points outside the top-four after 12 matches.
“It has always been a concern since Ole left the club,” Rangnick said about United missing out on Champions League football for next season after the 1-1 draw against Southampton on Saturday.
“That was one of the reasons why he probably had to leave the club and of course, results like today’s don’t make things any easier.
“Against Villa, Burnley and today we were one or 2-0 up and gave away two points. This can happen once but it shouldn’t happen three times and, with those points, the situation would be different but it’s not. This is what we have to face.
“We have to realize the truth and obviously with results like today’s, it doesn’t make it any easier to finish fourth at the end.”
United return to action on Tuesday against Brighton in the Premier League.
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