Four Manchester United players could give Ralf Rangnick his legacy

There have not been many reasons to smile at Old Trafford in recent weeks. There have been humiliating defeats, lacklustre performances and confirmation of another season without silverware, while Manchester United's two most fierce rivals are both chasing a Treble.

A dismal draw with Leicester at the weekend further dampened the sombre mood and brought United even closer to mathematical confirmation that they won't be playing in the Champions League next season. Following the match, interim manager Ralf Rangnick insisted a top-four finish was still possible. It certainly is, though this United side is not one you could back to actually get the job done.

Expectations are so low that some club suits might even try to twist an unlikely fourth-place finish as an achievement, should it happen in the final matches of the season. Doing so would protect club revenues, but it would only confirm how far the club values have dropped at the same time.

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As long as there is a glimmer of hope regarding a top-four finish, it is understandable that Rangnick would keep up such a fight, though the best approach might be to simply accept the unlikeliness of it happening and prepare for the future instead.

Although following the first-team has been a disappointment this season, United continue to set the standard at youth level and are gearing up for their first FA Youth Cup final in 11 years against Nottingham Forest later this month. One of the starlets from that side, Alejandro Garnacho, could soon be on the verge of the first team at Old Trafford, and in the final weeks of the season, Rangnick could certainly win fans over by giving youngsters like him a chance.