Nemanja Matic fears Manchester United 's morale could hit rock bottom if they fail to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
The midfielder, 33, has provided an alarming insight into the dressing room by confessing the mood amongst players fluctuates drastically depending on results. The Red Devils have struggled for consistency throughout a campaign which has been littered with reports of disharmony behind the scenes.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November following a disastrous run of results and Ralf Rangnick, his interim replacement, has reportedly faced backlash from the squad over his coaching methods. Meanwhile, United's hopes of Champions League qualification hang in the balance with nine games remaining to close the four-point gap on Arsenal, who also have a game in hand.
Matic freely discussed the mood at Old Trafford while speaking to talkSPORT, admitting the "atmosphere is not fantastic" and warning this will only sink further if United finish out of the top four. The Serb said: "The atmosphere? It depends on results. Of course, when you have good results the atmosphere is much better and everyone is happy.
"As you know, we are not in the best position in the league and the atmosphere is not fantastic but we have to stay positive and believe until the end because we want to finish in that top-four. The atmosphere in our dressing room will depend on that. If we finish top-four then it will be good for us, everyone will be… I cannot say happy, but satisfied. If we don't make that, it will be a very sad dressing room."
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Although Matic offered a bleak glimpse of life behind the scenes at Carrington, he insists Rangnick has the backing of himself and his teammates ahead of the all-important Premier League run-in. "He is trying his best and we are trying to follow his ideas," the former Chelsea star said of Rangnick. "Only at the end of the season, when we see the table and see where we are, then we can speak more about this. At the moment, what I can say is that Ralf and his staff, and us as players, are doing our best."
United return to action after the international break by hosting Leicester in Saturday's evening kick-off. They sit sixth in the table and also face fierce competition from Tottenham as well as the Gunners for fourth place, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea regarded as shoo-ins for the top three spots.
