MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ralf Rangnick has laid the blame for the club's desperate battle to make the top four squarely with his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United are currently in fifth spot, one point behind West Ham a place above.
They are a mammoth 23 points behind table-toppers and fierce rivals Manchester City.
Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Southampton saw them fluff their chance to get into the top four.
Speaking after the game, Rangnick was keen to point out that they are playing catch-up due to issues BEFORE he came to the club.
On the prospect of missing out on a Champions League place, the 63-year-old said: "It has always been a concern since Ole left the club.
“That was one of the reasons why he probably had to leave the club and of course, results like today’s [Southampton draw] don't make things any easier.
“Against Villa, Burnley and today we were one or 2-0 up and gave away two points.
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"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 realise the truth and obviously with results like today’s it doesn’t make it any easier to finish fourth at the end.”
Solskjaer was sacked in November with the club in seventh spot – and 12 points off the top of the table.
That position brings Europa Conference League football next season – something the management and fans probably would rather avoid.
United are one point ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal and three ahead of Wolves in seventh.
Rangnick will be hoping his side bounce back from the disappointing 1-1 draw with Southampton when they travel to take on Brighton on Tuesday.
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