Manchester United top-four hopes unrealistic, says manager Rangnick

United must face up to the reality their top-four hopes have likely disappeared as they prepare to take on Chelsea this week 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 team. United are returning to Old Trafford wounded by back-to-back losses at Liverpool and Arsenal, which have all but ended any faint hopes of reaching next season's Champions League.

"I don't think it makes sense now to still speak and speculate about the Champions League," United interim manager Rangnick told a press conference. "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." The German, who is set to remain at Old Trafford in an advisory role next season with current Ajax boss Erik ten Hag in the managerial hotseat, said United would still be an attractive destination for players despite their likely absence from the Champions League. "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)," he said.