Man Utd failing miserably after Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes set private target

Manchester United’s penalty shootout defeat to Middlesbrough not only saw them crash out of the FA Cup, but likely ended their hopes of winning a trophy this season.

Having come into the season as runners-up in the Premier League and Europa League, as well as enjoying deep runs in both domestic cup competitions, United would have had ambitions of progress.

But with the calendar barely turned over to February, the chances of lifting silverware this term are looking unlikely at best.

Already out of the Carabao Cup and with their Premier League title tilt a distant memory, the Champions League remains their sole hope of ending a drought which stretches back to May 2017.

The arrivals of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and in particular, Cristiano Ronaldo, was supposed to end that wait, but unless they can upset the odds in Europe, the wait will go on.

Ronaldo has made it perfectly clear that he isn’t content with battling for top four places, returning with the sole intention of adding to the seven major honours he won during his first spell.

"I don't accept that our mentality be less than being in the top three in the Premier League,” Ronaldo said during an interview with Sky Sports last month. "I don't want to be here to be in sixth place, or seventh place, or fifth place. I'm here to try to win, to compete.”

Bruno Fernandes is another United star that has made no bones about his lofty ambitions, revealing that he held talks with Ronaldo, shortly after his arrival, with their targets for the season made clear.

"Our focus and Cristiano’s, because of what I’ve already talked to him about, is to win what there is to win," Fernandes told Portuguese outlet RTP3 last year.

"Our goals remain and obviously, with Cristiano,