Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes they face an ‘uphill task’ to finish in the Premier League top four.
However, he stressed that cup competitions can provide momentum for league form as United face the more certain likelihood of sealing Europa League qualification.
Erik ten Hag’s side currently sit sixth in the table and 11 points behind Tottenham and Aston Villa, who are fourth and fifth respectively.
With seven league games left, the chances of them finishing in the top four and therefore qualify for the Champions League look slim.
And speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Ferdinand revealed his belief that United face an almighty challenge to pip Spurs and Villa to fourth.
“It’s an uphill task now. I was confident about a month or two ago, but now no, I can’t see it. I look at the results that are coming through and Spurs are still churning out a win here and there.
“Villa are in a bit of a funny patch but I just think they’re both too far ahead for us. Man United aren’t the most consistent team as it is anyway, it’s not like Man United are on an unbelievable roll and you go, ‘Actually, we could bang out six or seven wins on the bounce.’
“We’ve not done that all season, so why is it going to happen now? So, I just can’t see Man United being able to get past those two teams to get into the Champions League, not at all.”
However, when asked if United would be better off not qualifying for Europe at all, Ferdinand dismissed this idea and explained how cup competitions can prove beneficial.
“Maybe, but also cup competitions can galvanise the place, it can get the place up. Man United are in the FA Cup right now, if we said, ‘Listen, just concentrate on winning the league,’ we’d have no hope now, nothing else to play for at all.
“So sometimes if you can use cup competitions to your advantage and you can get a bit of momentum in them, they can be a spark plug for league form as well.
“Listen, without Champions League football at Man United, it’s very disappointing but I always look at it from a player’s perspective.
“Jason [Cundy] you’ll understand, Andy [Goldstein] maybe not, you want to get your hands on some silverware, if you’ve got a chance to do it, you take it.”
United next face Bournemouth on Saturday before an FA Cup semi-final clash against Coventry City next weekend at Wembley.
Back-to-back home fixtures against league strugglers Sheffield United and Burnley then follow as the season run-in continues.
Four games and a potential FA Cup final are lined up for United in May, although the top four could well out of sight by then.
News Summary:
- Rio Ferdinand says Man United will miss out on top four but believes European qualification could still ‘galvanise’ the club
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.