Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits it would be 'miraculous' if Manchester United are title contenders next season.
United will see closest rivals Manchester City or Liverpool crowned champions on the final day of the season on Sunday, and are certain to finish outside the top-four after falling a massive 29 points behind Pep Guardiola's side.
Solskjaer dampened any hopes that he can transform the club this summer in time for next season as he admitted that he is planning for the long-term.
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He said: 'I think I've been quite honest that challenging for the title next year would be a miraculous season because we're so far behind at the moment points wise.
'So next season, yes, we've got to close that gap. If we manage to get to February, March being close, that's fantastic but if not this summer will also be about players who can last here for many years.
'We were so far behind when we came in before Christmas. I could sense the positivity. When you start winning games it was fantastic to be in that group and that showed us the potential and quality in the players.
'Of course, we didn't have the consistency, but it's a competition here now. The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world and we just fell that short of what would be a miraculous target of fourth back in December.
'It's been a mixed bag for me but I can handle it. I'm just thinking about the players, how emotional it will have been for them. They started the season with one manager, and finished with another one. They've had the highs and lows.
'I've been in football a few more years than these and I've had those emotions but I've looked forward coming in every day, so have the players. Even though sometimes after games you've lost you feel that we've let ourselves down overall it's been an adventure for me so far. I've absolutely loved it.'
With Liverpool playing Tottenham in the Champions League final, and Arsenal and Chelsea facing off in the Europa League final, it has demonstrated just how far United have fallen behind their rivals.
Solskjaer admitted that the football landscape has changed since he was a player at United as he tries to bring back the good times to Old Trafford.
'That says everything about the competitive league we're in,' he added. 'It's not like when I used to play that
