Erik ten Hag conceded Manchester United have "stood still" this season but believes they are a top four team with everyone fit.
United have recorded 61 confirmed cases of injury or illness that have caused a player to miss a game this season and they are sixth in the Premier League table, 13 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
On the four occasions United have failed to qualify for the Champions League in the last ten years, they have changed manager before or at the end of the season.
United will be without seven defenders through injury for the third game running against second-from-bottom Burnley on Saturday. United finished third last season but sixth increasingly looks like the best-case scenario for Ten Hag's team this term.
"This year we stand still but I think when everyone is available definitely we are competing for the top four," Ten Hag said. "I’m confident of that.
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"Although I have to say there are some teams … it is not anymore just a two-horse or three-horse race in the Premier League, there is Villa, there is Spurs, there is Newcastle. So many good teams - six or seven teams who all can compete. Chelsea - don’t forget them.
"They are all competing for the top four and we are one of them but we are not in this moment in the position to compete for number one or number two. That is fact."
Four teenagers have been named on the bench in United's recent games against Coventry City and Sheffield United and Ten Hag admitted the lack of squad depth is an issue they intend to address in the summer transfer window.
United have seven players with first-team experience out on loan but the majority could be released or sold in the summer.
"We can come closer if we make a good window," Ten Hag stressed. "I think where we were last season and we had 30 goals with Rashy to add a striker which we did with Rasmus Hojlund and add an additional quality midfielder with Mason Mount and we want to play more from the back and we add a good goalkeeper.
"So then you get closer and also this summer we have to make our chances on positions which strengthen us. We have to strengthen ourselves in the quality and in key positions and also in the depth of the squad, which I think is one of the lessons from this season."
Ten Hag expects Raphael Varane to play again this season but reiterated there was no update on his future as the centre back approaches the final two months of his contract.
The Manchester Evening News reported earlier this year a decision on Varane's future has been delayed partly due to the recent ratification of Ineos's minority stake and uncertainty over Ten Hag's position.
