The Daily Mail points out what finishing third will cost the club and the players in financial terms.
'Ferguson last night warned his players that they will each lose bonus payments - understood to be in the region of £25,000 - if they don't manage to edge above Arsenal and into the second of two automatic Champions League qualifying places.
With a total prize pot of £37m being shared by the English clubs, depending on performance in this year's Champions League and their finishing position in the Premiership this season, United are already rueing the £2m cost of crashing out of Europe at the first knockout stage.
And if that disappointment is then supplemented by a failure to finish as runners-up to Chelsea in the Premiership, Ferguson will be staring at a total of £5m in squandered revenue.
Currently Chelsea stand to scoop in the region of £13.6m for their efforts in Europe and the Premiership this season, while Arsenal and United will receive £9.2m or £6.3m - depending on who finishes second and third.
Ferguson spelled it out to the players in cash terms:
"The players know what second place means, of course they do. I should not need to tell them about that. They have a bonus system that applies to them finishing in that second spot."