Former Premier League defender William Gallas doesn't believe Manchester United will qualify for the Champions League via the top four next season.
The Red Devils are hoping to return to Europe's biggest club competition after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season, recording their lowest points total (58) since 1989-90. They've also not won a trophy since their Europa League success in May 2017.
United are under new management after Erik ten Hag succeeded Ralf Rangnick in May, but Gallas thinks they will struggle to finish ahead of their rivals. Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham finished in the top four last season with Arsenal in fifth.
"I don’t want to, but I have to put City because they look like they are going to be very strong," Gallas told Metro when asked to predict the top four. "So City, Chelsea, Liverpool definitely. Then the same problem, Arsenal or Tottenham, I don’t know."
City won the Premier League title last season, finishing one point ahead of Liverpool. Chelsea finished in third - 18 points behind the Reds - while Tottenham ended up in fourth. Spurs were three points behind the Blues and two points ahead of the Gunners.
Gallas was then asked if any other teams could break into the top four, to which he replied: "Manchester United? I don't think so, no."
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Worryingly for United, they finished 11 points and six wins behind Arsenal. They only picked up two points more than West Ham, who will compete in the Europa Conference League next season. It marked an alarming decline after the Red Devils finished second in the Premier League in the 2020-21 term.
Gallas played in the Premier League for 12 years, winning the title twice. The 84-cap France international represented Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. It's believed he was the first player to make a league appearance for the three of the London rivals.
Of all his former clubs, Gallas is most excited to see what Tottenham can achieve during the upcoming season. Spurs were eighth in the Premier League when Antonio Conte was appointed in November but rallied during the final six months of the campaign.
Tottenham have also impressed during the transfer window, signing Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and Clement Lenglet. The latter was their most-recent transfer, with a season-long loan deal announced on Friday evening.
"I think they can cause trouble to the big clubs," added Gallas. "They will cause problems as they will be very strong this season, especially with the mentality of Antonio Conte."
Although Gallas doesn't think United will achieve success this season, Jaap Stam does. "We all know what he [Ten Hag] can do and what he has done over in Holland with Ajax," the ex-defender told The Guardian. "Hopefully he can do the same now with United. Obviously, there are certain things that will need to be there for him to help him, maybe in terms of different players and personnel. But I think he's done a good job in Holland."
