Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has highlighted three key areas which cost Manchester United qualification for next season's Champions League.
United will be playing in the Europe League in the new season after failing to beat Huddersfield on Sunday afternoon, a result which mathematically ended their hopes of a top-four finsih.
Things could yet get worse for United as they know that if Watford win the FA Cup they will be entered into a Europa League qualifier on 25 July, the same day they are scheduled to face Tottenham in Shanghai.
A run of two wins in their last 11 matches has overshadowed a successful start to Solskjaer's tenure as caretaker manager, and the Norwegian acknowledges how hard it will be to turnaround their fortunes.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield on Sunday the United manager highlighted three areas which ultimately cost his side a top-four finish in the Premier League.
"We haven't taken enough points, won enough games, scored enough goals," he told Sky Sports.
"It is always difficult when you lose your manager halfway through the season. It's caught up with us a little bit.
"It shows us where we are. We're not living in fantasy land thinking we can catch the top two, we're far away but we shouldn't be speaking about being far off the top four at Manchester United.
"We're many levels (behind) at the moment, that's the size of the challenge, it's a great challenge for us but I'm sure we'll make it."
Manchester United fans agree with Gary Neville's transfer assessment of Alexis Sanchez
Gary Neville launches scathing attack on Manchester United squad
