Jamie Carragher has warned Manchester United they have an enormous task on their hands to finish in the Premier League top four despite their impressive performances in pre-season.
The Red Devils have won all three friendlies new boss Erik ten Hag, who continues to push his players hard in training. He has made his high standards very clear as United look to improve on a poor season that saw them finish a lowly sixth.
The club's huge resources mean they are expected to return to the Champions League scene sooner rather than later but Carragher doesn't see a top-four spot as a forgone conclusion, as several of United's rivals also taking huge strides forward during the summer.
He told Sky Sports : "I think there's a long road Man United are on at the moment in terms of challenging for the title. I think the first thing for Erik ten Hag and the players they're bringing in is we need to get back into the Champions League where it belongs and that's where Manchester United should be.
"I think once United do that, it'll then be to look at the title in the next couple of years, but it won't be easy to get back into the top four this season. Not just United, but any team who are normally in the top four. You'd expect City and Liverpool to do it because they're usually going for the title.
"You look at Chelsea and the signings they're bringing in, Tottenham's work as well, Arsenal as well. I think getting into the top four is really tough and its proven that for a lot of Manchester United managers who've had great CVs in the past. But they've made a really good start in pre-season, [it will] be interesting if they can get [ Barcelona midfielder Frenkie] De Jong because I think he's a top class player who'd make a real difference for them."
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Ten Hag is confident he can get the desired results and said in his first United press conference: "The season before, this squad was second in the league, so there is huge potential. I think if we improve, if we can work with them, I think we can get out more than what is now the result from this season."
Last term, United ended up finishing 13 points off Tottenham in fourth after a dismal conclusion to the campaign. They have not faced successive seasons outside the Champions League since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson but face a tough test in overhauling their rivals.
