Had you given Manchester United fans their current state of affairs as an option at the beginning of the season, it surely would have a hard job trying to find many who would have taken it.
And rightly so, fans have a right to expect big things when your club spends nearly £150 million on new players, as well as bring in one of the most renowned managers in world football in the form of former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
While United have an EFL Cup final at Wembley to look forward to this weekend, as well as remaining competitive in both the FA Cup and the Europa League, the Red Devils currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League, two points adrift of the top four.
Fans would surely have been hoping United would challenge for the title this year, though with their new-look squad taking a little longer to gel than expected, a top four finish is about the best they can hope for now.
If Jose Mourinho and company can bag themselves a piece of silverware (or even two), as well as finish in the top four, that is a season that must be deemed a successful one.
Here are the FOUR fixtures Manchester United must win in order to qualify for Europe’s elite competition and make that dream come true …
Vs. Everton , Apr 4
Everton are in a fine run of form since the turn of the year. Had they kept these kind of performances up across the season in the same rich vein, the Toffees would have almost certainly been challenging for the top four.
Ronald Koeman’s side are one place and seven points behind Manchester United and will be keen to keep their good run of form going until May. The sides, who currently sit 6th and 7th in the league, meet in early April in what will be a fixture that could determine who will be the closest challenger to the top four come the end of the season.
A must win for United and Mourinho.
Vs. Burnley, Apr 22
Playing Chelsea a week before this fixture may certainly be a big one, but not one we would say United absolutely MUST win.
At Turf Moor on the 22nd however, United need to take home all three points. Burnley have a fantastic home record, though it is getting to the point at the season in which the bigger clubs – and no disrespect to Burnley who have been fantastic this season – need to capitalise on the so-called weaker sides.
Sean Dyche’s side will be a tough cookie to break down, but United will have to find a way.
Vs. Arsenal, May 6
This really is a crunch game.
Should results go their way in the other fixtures beforehand, the winner of this will occupy the last spot in the final four. While not as glamorous a prize as the league titles these two titans of English football used to contest, it’s another interesting narrative to one of the biggest games this country has to offer.
Arsenal have been lacklustre again over the past few months, though as they so often do towards the very end of the season, will likely rediscover some kind of form in order to ensure they don’t finish outside the top four for the first time in nearly two decades.
United lose this, and the top four dream is over. Almost ….
Vs. Tottenham, May 13
For some, playing both north London giants so quickly after each other might seem like two horrid fixtures towards the end of the season, but for others, it can be seen as two opportunities.
Should United lose to Arsenal the week before, the game at White Hart Lane the following weekend represents a chance at retribution and one final shot at the top four.
Obviously, that is completely dependent on Spurs form up until this game, though the final few weeks could see some chopping and changing with Arsenal, Spurs and United, all of whom are in the fray for the to four, play off against each other.
It’s also the last ever Premier League game at White Hart Lane, just to add more fuel to the fire.