Manchester United’s top-four hopes now unrealistic, accepts Ralf Rangnick

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick knows Champions League qualification is unrealistic as Manchester United prepare to take on Chelsea without a swathe of key players.

Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho have joined the Red Devils’ lengthy list of absentees for Thursday’s rearranged Premier League clash with Thomas Tuchel’s Blues.

There is talk of further protests as United return to Old Trafford wounded by back-to-back away losses at Liverpool and Arsenal, which have all but ended any faint hopes of reaching the Champions League.

“I don’t think it makes sense now to still speak and speculate about the Champions League,” Rangnick said. “We need to be realistic.

“Even if we win all four games, it’s still not in our own hands. But what is in our own hands is the way that we play, the level of performance.

“Even for the next season it’s important to finish this season on the best possible note.”

Asked about the impact of Champions League qualification on United’s summer transfer business, he said: “Of course it would be better if we play Champions League next season, but this also affects other clubs. This is not a problem that only Manchester United has.

“The renewal of the contract of Bruno (Fernandes) showed that it’s still possible – this club is an attractive club and with a new manager (Erik ten Hag).

“With a new approach with a new manager and the way he wants to play, this is still a massively interesting club.