Ralf Rangnick refuses to focus on table as Man Utd’s top-four challenge stutters

Ralf Rangnick insisted scrutinising the Premier League table on a weekly basis is pointless even if he recognises Manchester United’s top-four hopes are unfavourable.

United were lacklustre in a 1-1 draw against Leicester, lacking a cutting edge with Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined due to illness, and only the video assistant referee’s intervention prevented a Foxes win.

Fred cancelled out Kelechi Iheanacho’s opener but Leicester thought they had retaken the lead when James Maddison slammed home, except a foul on Raphael Varane in the build-up saw the goal chalked off.

The Red Devils are three points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal, who have played two games fewer, but Rangnick believes fixating on the standings with seven weeks of the season remaining achieves nothing.

The United interim manager said: “For us, it’s my job and all of our jobs to finish this season on the highest and best possible note. Saying that does not necessarily mean finishing fourth.

“Dropping another two points hasn’t made the situation better at all. For us it’s about preparing for the next game again.

“It doesn’t help at all to look at the table every weekend and speculate and anticipate what might happen, how many points we might need. Right now we are not the favourites for sure for number four.

“But the season is not over, we still have another eight games to play and then it’s time to draw the right conclusions and take the right decisions for next season.”

With Ronaldo out and Edinson Cavani injured, Rangnick peculiarly elected not to include Marcus Rashford in his starting XI and went into this fixture without a recognised centre forward.

Bruno Fernandes was deployed as a false nine while the returning Paul Pogba played higher up the pitch