It’s not a death sentence if Man United don’t qualify for the Champions League, says Solskjaer

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. [Photo: Reuters]

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks that finishing in the top four is important but does not consider failing to qualify for the Champions League to be "fatal" to their development.

A draw at the King Power Stadium against Leicester today (6pm EAT) would be enough to secure a Champions League spot.

Man United’s finish would almost certainly be safe no matter their result if Wolves were to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Solskjaer believes success is gradual and the players together with fans should be patient as the team has the potential to be great again.

"It would be a good boost and a nice boost for the team to finish third. I know since October, after that international break, we've had the third-most points in the league.

"For a long, long spell now we've been the third-best team, we just, in the start of the season, we were too inconsistent. Now we have got more consistency, more fitness levels, we're more robust,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

"And of course, we want to be in amongst the elite in Europe and play in the Champions League, but the old Winston Churchill quote is, 'success isn't final, failure isn't fatal - then what you need is the courage to continue'.

"That's what we're going to do with this team, we continue. We carry on developing the team, improving and knowing that this is not the end of the journey for the team, this is just one other stepping-stone in our development,” he pointed out.

Solskjaer further added his players will be fully refreshed for the much-anticipated clash, despite a lacklustre performance during Wednesday's 1-1 draw with West Ham and poor outing against Chelsea in the FA Cup.

"We have proven over the last five or six weeks that we are one of the fittest teams and one of the strongest teams.

"But all the other teams you'd feel a little bit of wear and tear, aches and bruises. I wouldn't worry about my players at all in that respect. They'll be sharp, fresh and ready,” the United tactician stated.

Leicester, with Jamie Vardy on 23 Premier League goals, have struggled for form in the second half of the season and have only won two of their past eight league matches.

The Red Devils, on the other hand, have only won one of their past four games in all competitions but have generally been one of the most impressive sides since the domestic league resumed after the coronavirus-enforced break.