Manchester United failed to capitalise on their game in hand over Manchester City as they were defeated 3-2 by West Ham in the last match at the Boleyn Ground.
The Reds would have gone into fourth place with a victory but went a goal down within ten minutes, and then could not hold on after Anthony Martial scored a brace in the second half to put United ahead.
Michail Antonio and Winston Reid scored in quick succession after Martial’s second to turn the game around once more, leaving the Reds were deservedly beaten.
Despite his side having blown a lead and therefore a great chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League, manager Louis van Gaal insisted the Reds could still finish fourth by the end of the weekend. Speaking to Sky Sports in his post-match interview, the Dutchman said:
Still we can catch Manchester City because they have to win also Swansea City at home. It’s not so easy for them and we have to beat Bournemouth its also not easy because we have to cope this disappointment, because it is a big disappointment. When you are 1-0 behind and then you change it in 2-1 and then you lose again that’s a mental blow.
When asked whether this was a missed opportunity for the Reds, Van Gaal added:
Of course, but you could imagine how thrilled the players and the fans and the coach [of West Ham] also you have seen are in this situation and we have to cope with it and at the end we have lost with 3-2, so we have missed the opportunity.
United remain stuck on 63 points in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with both sides having just one game left to play.
The Reds now need to beat Bournemouth this weekend and hope their local rivals lose at Swansea in order to finish in fourth place.
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