Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes it would be “miraculous” if Manchester United challenge for the Premier League title next season.

United will see one of their great rivals - either Manchester City or Liverpool - crowned champions this weekend, with both sides still in contention going into the final day.

Solskjaer’s side, meanwhile, sit 29 points off the pace with no hope of a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.

The gap between United and their north-west rivals has rarely been wider and Solskjaer said on Friday that it is unlikely to be bridged in the space of a single season.

“I think I’ve been quite honest that challenging for the title next year would be a miraculous season because we’re so far behind at the moment points-wise,” he said. “Next season, yes, we’ve got to close that gap.”

Manchester United: Keep or sell? Show all 26 1 /26 Manchester United: Keep or sell? Manchester United: Keep or sell? Who will Manchester United keep this summer? It has been a rollercoaster season for Manchester United leaving Ole Gunnar solskjaer with key decisions to make over who should stay and who should leave this summer Man Utd via Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? David De Gea Form is temporary, class is permanent. Riddled with errors of late but remains United’s most important player, even when in the last year of his contract. Keep Action Images via Reuters Manchester United: Keep or sell? Sergio Romero A reserve goalkeeper yet says everything about United’s recruitment that he is one of the better signings of the post-Ferguson era. Keep Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Lee Grant Third-choice, veteran goalkeeper whose home-grown status means he helps to meet squad requirements for European competition. Keep Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? Ashley Young Set to spend a third straight season at right-back, having signed a new contract, yet surely cannot be the automatic first-choice. Sell, yet likely to stay Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? Diogo Dalot Some glimpses of promise but the jury’s still out. At 20-years-old, clearly still raw, though needs to perform more consistently when handed opportunities. Keep Action Images via Reuters Manchester United: Keep or sell? Antonio Valencia Solskjaer recently confirmed for the first time that club captain Valencia’s contract would not be renewed come the end of the season. Sell Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Luke Shaw After several years of treading water at Old Trafford, Shaw has been a quiet success story of an otherwise forgettable season. Keep Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Chris Smalling Will be United’s longest-serving player when Valencia departs. Signed a new contract. A new centre-back should make him compete for his place. Keep as cover, for now. Keep as cover, for now AFP/Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? Phil Jones Another survivor of the Ferguson era. Comes in for an undue amount of criticism, but his longstanding injury problems and inconsistency undermine his case to stay. Sell, yet likely to stay AFP/Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? Victor Lindelof A contender for United’s player of the year alongside Shaw, though form of autumn and winter has tailed off. Keep REUTERS Manchester United: Keep or sell? Eric Bailly A defender with raw gifts but a questionable injury record. Seemingly unfancied by Solskjaer. Close to outgoing Spanish-speakers like Herrera and Mata. Keep as cover, for now EPA Manchester United: Keep or sell? Marcos Rojo Has played a pitiful amount of football since renewing terms last year. Offers nothing while out for long periods of time for unspecified reasons. Sell AP Manchester United: Keep or sell? Matteo Darmian Surprise starter against City, United have attempted to offload Darmian for several windows now. Should finally cut ties this summer. Sell EPA Manchester United: Keep or sell? Nemanja Matic Increasingly appears as if holding midfielder’s best days are behind him. Currently first-choice in an area of the pitch where United must improve. Sell Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Fred United’s fourth-most expensive signing of all time has suffered a difficult first year. Questions remain over his ability, despite a handful of competent showings. Keep, for now Action Images via Reuters Manchester United: Keep or sell? Scott McTominay Recently emerged as a useful squad player in the mould of Darren Fletcher of late. Questions remain over long-term place but deserving of more opportunities. Keep Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? Paul Pogba An enigma. Important commercially and has the natural ability to dominate on-the-pitch too but inconsistent. Real Madrid’s interest is no secret. Keep, only sell for record money AFP/Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Andreas Pereira Yet another to have signed new terms, yet has rarely taken opportunities granted to him. Sell, but likely to stay Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Ander Herrera Expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. A player who clearly ‘gets’ the club but fresh, younger alternatives would be welcome. Release Getty Manchester United: Keep or sell? Alexis Sanchez A symbol of the club’s poor decision-making and arguably its least successful transfer of the modern era. Astronomical wages may prohibit a sale. Sell, if possible Getty Images Manchester United: Keep or sell? Juan Mata Edging closer to the exit door, with no new contract signed. Perhaps too languid for Solskjaer's ideal style of play. Like Herrera, a young alternative would be preferable. Release Manchester United: Keep or sell? Jesse Lingard A regular target for criticism but also an academy product who has earned his current status at Old Trafford. Needs to rediscover match-winning ability of last season. Keep AP Manchester United: Keep or sell? Anthony Martial Valid questions remain over whether he will reach his potential, though natural ability is clear. Having just signed until 2024, he is likely to stay around for a while yet. Keep REUTERS Manchester United: Keep or sell? Romelu Lukaku A better player than his time at United suggests. If Solskjaer can fit him into a coherent system, he should stay. If not, hard to see him as a substitute. Keep, but sell at right price EPA Manchester United: Keep or sell? Marcus Rashford One of the few players United fans would be disappointed to lose. Contract talks are ongoing, with current deal effectively set to expire in two years. Keep Getty

Solskjaer won 14 of his first 17 games in charge as caretaker manager, after replacing Jose Mourinho in December, but United’s form has turned since his permanent appointment.

A run of seven defeats and just two wins in 11 games has left United facing a sixth-place finish and a season of Europa League football.

“We were so far behind when we came in before Christmas, I could sense the positivity, when you start winning games. It was fantastic to be in that group.

“That showed us the potential and quality in the players. Of course we didn’t have the consistency, but it’s a competition here now.

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“The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world and we just fell that short of what would be a miraculous target of fourth back in December. It’s been a mixed bag for me but I can handle it.”

United are the only member of the Premier League ‘top six’ whose season will end on Sunday, with the other five all having another trophy to play for.

City will play against Watford in the FA Cup final a week on Saturday, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will contest the Champions League final on 1 June.

Chelsea and Arsenal will also meet each other in the final of the Europa League, having booked their places in the Baku showpiece on Thursday night.

“That says everything about the competitive league we’re in,” Solskjaer said. “It’s not like when I used to play, that it was us or Arsenal that were going to win the league, then Chelsea came.

“Now it’s a very competitive competition and we’re challenging against the best teams in the world for these trophies and of course that tells us that it’s going to be a great challenge.

“We want to get back to where we used to be. We know as a club, staff, the players know that next season we’ve got a great challenge ahead.