Wayne Rooney
Manchester United's highest paid player, Wayne Rooney, has admitted it is difficult to see Liverpool and Manchester City compete for the Premier League title, when the Red Devils aren't.
The defending champions have suffered a disappointing season, following the change of manager - from Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes last summer, with the later wanting to take a different approach.
And since the beginning of this campaign, United, unlike every other recent season, have not been able to occupy a place amongst the top four teams on the table.
Hence, the 28-year-old England international says it has been difficult to watch the supposed lesser teams challenge for the title.
"To see City doing well, and particularly Liverpool, is really difficult," the England international told club magazine Inside United.
"It's not nice when we know we are capable of being up there challenging and we haven't been doing that this season.
"However, it means we have to step up and get back up there because the feeling we've had this season is not a nice feeling at all to have.
"We have to keep working, keep progressing and finish the season stronger.
"As a group of players and a team we haven't been good enough this season and we have to put that right.
"After Sir Alex [Ferguson] being here for 26 years, there was always going to be a change whoever came in and, in fairness, I think the players have to do better."
United had a nice victory last weekend, as they cruised past West Brom by 3-0.