Manchester United's experiment has proven to be a failure.

Having relied on Ralf Rangnick, a manager who had only been in charge for two seasons out of the previous ten, to salvage their season and guide them to a top-four finish in the Premier League in order to secure Champions League football for next season, United now face the bleak prospect of missing out on Europe entirely. The 1-0 loss to Everton on Saturday was the latest example of why Manchester United's fans will not be rushing out to get the season review DVD this season.

The defeat on Merseyside was a new low in a season that has featured far too many embarrassing displays and disappointments to mention them all. It is reasonable to ask whether anyone else could have done any better given the circumstances. Rangnick is not to blame for every aspect of United's current problems, by any means. But he has fallen short of extracting the finest performance from a bright group.

The possibility of him taking over as leader elicited a mixed response. In that particular instance, he was unemployed and stood in the shop window, waiting to be chosen.

United appeared to be unable to pass up the chance. Solskjaer, on the other hand, stayed on for a few more weeks, by which time Antonio Conte had been appointed as the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite a few bumps in the way and being cautioned by Conte that they must secure financial backing from the club's management or else they risk losing him, Spurs have maintained their upward trajectory, to the point where they now appear to be the frontrunners for the final Champions League spot. Spurs have begun to play and execute in a manner that resembles Conte's qualities and idiosyncrasies in recent weeks, following an initial adaption period.

United, on the other hand, are cruising towards the finish line at such a glacial pace that even Norwich City could close the season with more of a flourish - and they appear certain to be relegated in the process. What is important to note is that Conte has boosted Tottenham's spirits and performance levels to such an extent that it has demonstrated that United missed a trick by not approaching him when he showed an interest in the position.

When asked if he would fit in at United, Gary Neville responded by saying he didn't think so. However, in football, hindsight can be a great thing, but has Neville been left with egg on his face?

Tottenham have been revitalized under Conte, prompting legitimate speculation about whether or not he could have accomplished the same feat at Old Trafford. What is the length of a piece of string, on the other hand? That is the impression one gets from the circumstance.

However, it is possible that Sir Alex Ferguson would have expected a greater response from United than what he has witnessed in recent months if the club had turned to Conte. This is due to the fact that the Scot waxed lyrical about the job the Italian had done at Chelsea back in 2017.

"Fantastic, you can sense his energy on the pitch," Ferguson said five years ago in an interview with Sky Sports. In sports, there's a saying that the team reflects its manager's personality, and that's exactly what they've done with him.

"His club has been at the top of the league for an extended period of time. They suffered early defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool, but have since risen to the occasion."

Tottenham Hotspur are beginning to thrive under Antonio Conte

Were you under the impression that Ferguson was mistaken? In recent weeks, Tottenham's performances and results have demonstrated that Conte's high level of energy and flashy management style has translated onto the field. To become accustomed to his techniques and style of play, it was inevitable that it would take time. But Tottenham have reaped the rewards of their efforts in recent weeks, winning their last four games and scoring 14 goals in the process.

Of course, if Conte had taken over at Old Trafford, the resources and tools available to him would have been vastly different, but would he have battled to the same extent as Rangnick did? Even though it is an impossible question to answer, given their previous managerial experiences and accomplishments over the last decade, you would be inclined to say no to them.

Furthermore, surely it isn't a coincidence that the managers of the clubs that are now in the Champions League are the best in the business? In this instance, Conte has demonstrated his ability to step in and change the course of events..

When the Italian was at Chelsea, Ferguson recognized his abilities, and the latter is threatening to do the same at Tottenham, even if winning the Premier League remains a long way off. In all seriousness, however, they are significantly closer than United.