Manchester United must build on their third-placed finish this season to mount a serious Premier League title challenge next term, according to Nemanja Matic.
United defied expectations with a strong run of form following the restart of the season, pipping Leicester City to a top-four finish and also finishing above Chelsea on goal difference.
But while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side return to the top table with Champions League qualification, there remains a serious gap between themselves and the top two.
United finished on 66 points; 15 behind Man City - and Pep Guardiola will be disappointed with his side's total - and a mammoth 33 off champions Liverpool, with the Anfield club wrapping up the title with seven games to spare.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Liverpool (c) | 38 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 52 | 99 |
| 2 | Man City | 38 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 67 | 81 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 30 | 66 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 66 |
| 5 | Leicester City | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 26 | 62 |
While Bruno Fernandes' arrival has transformed United's style and fortunes, the Red Devils realistically need three or four more signings this summer if they are to contemplate bridging that gap to Jurgen Klopp's side.
Still, midfielder Matic insists it is a bridge that a club like United must cross, with expectations at Old Trafford always sky-high.
"Me, personally, I would like to win the Premier League with Manchester United," Matic told Inside United. "I think that our club always needs to fight for the title.
"We always need to try to do the best for this club, which we are doing at the moment, and I think we cannot allow any club to win the league seven or 10 games before the season finishes. So we have to fight until the end.
"Of course, we have a young team, but this cannot be an excuse. I think these young players already have a few seasons behind them playing.
"So, from the next season, we have to fight for the title. I don’t know if we’re going to win [it] but I’m sure that we can fight until the end.
"That’s my personal target and I think the rest of my team-mates think the same."
