Man Utd told they are ‘nowhere near’ Premier League title rivals Arsenal and Man City after Leeds draw

Manchester United have been told they are ‘nowhere near’ Premier League title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City after they dropped two points at home to Leeds United.

United would have moved level with Man City and five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal if they had beaten managerless Leeds at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

But Erik ten Hag’s side endured a nightmare start and found themselves behind after just one minute as Wilfried Gnonto gave Leeds a surprise early lead.

Manchester United looked down and out when Raphael Varane turned Crysencio Summerville’s cutback into his own net shortly after half-time, but the hosts produced an impressive comeback to earn a point.

First, in-form England star Marcus Rashford scored his 23rd goal of the season, and then Jadon Sancho marked his return to first-team duties with his first Premier League goal since September.

Despite the comeback, the draw will ‘feel like a defeat’ to Manchester United, according to former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, who says the match was further proof that the Red Devils are ‘nowhere near’ Arsenal and Man City.

‘That’s not a good result for Manchester United – that’s a bad result,’ he said on talkSPORT. ‘We all expected United to go there in front of the crowd and close the gap on Man City and Arsenal.

‘Are they in the tile race? Based on what I’ve seen tonight, they’re nowhere near Arsenal and Man City. They’re not!

‘I think United fans will be coming away disappointed. Even though they were 2-0 down, that will feel like a defeat. That’s two big points dropped against a side that don’t have a manager.’

Ten Hag, meanwhile, bemoaned his side’s slow start against Leeds but insisted he was ‘proud’ of ‘magnificent’ Sancho.

The former Borussia Dortmund winger only returned to United’s first-team last month after battling physical and mental issues over the past three months.

‘I am pleased and proud he did it,’ Ten Hag said on Manchester United’s £73m signing.

‘It is clear it is a difficult period but he finds himself out and he needs credit for that. He is a brilliant footballer and if he can invest in the right levels he can be outstanding.

‘I will back him, the coaches will and the team will but finally he has to do it himself.’

Manchester United travel to Elland Road on Sunday for the reverse fixture against Leeds, who are yet to confirm Jesse Marsch’s replacement.