Manchester United’s hopes of achieving a top-four finish in the Premier League were ended at the weekend, after Tottenham Hotspur secured a 2-1 victory over the Red Devils in the last ever game at White Hart Lane.

The defeat, which continued United’s poor record away from home against their fellow top six sides this season, as left Jose Mourinho’s side relying on their Europa League campaign if they are to secure qualification to the Champions League next year.

United are set to tackle Eredivisie side Ajax in Stockholm later this month, with their Dutch opponents enduring a major blow yesterday as Feyenoord pipped them to the league title, with both sides now seeking redemption from disappointment in their domestic campaign.

Manchester United’s decision to focus on their European involvement has been obvious for weeks now as heavily-rotated sides were selected in the defeats to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, which has seen the Red Devils’ tally of defeats in the Premier League this season swiftly increase from three to five.

Arsenal ended the Red Devils’ 25-match unbeaten run last weekend and Tottenham ensured it was consecutive defeats for Jose Mourinho’s side in the Premier League, the first time that has happened since September 2016.

Jose Mourinho made eight changes for the defeat at White Hart Lane yesterday, although a strong squad still featured, but the consecutive defeats have added additional pressure upon the Red Devils ahead of the Europa League final on the 24th May.

Questions will be asked as to whether it was necessary to make sweeping changes for yesterday’s match, unlike the game with Arsenal last week where the Red Devils still had to look ahead to the second-leg of their semi-final clash with Celta Vigo, and United’s inability to balance involvement in two key competitions late in the season raises concerns.

Manchester United will need to be able to fight on all fronts next season if they seal a return to the Champions League and the signs this season suggest they’ll find it difficult- as shown by the two defeats in North London.

However, there are positives to look at as Manchester United have managed to seal impressive results shortly after their Europa League involvement through victories against the likes of Chelsea in the Premier League and Southampton in the League Cup final.

Mourinho’s side will need to clinch those sort of results next season following their Champions League involvement but it will be significantly harder, with the calibre of clubs in Europe’s elite competition much higher than their counter-parts in the Europa League.

The squad will need to be strengthened this summer ahead of that challenge but the current crop of players needs to do the job first, as Ajax certainly won’t be easy opponents to face.