Former players Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane have expressed doubts about Manchester United's chances of qualifying for the Champions League this season. Following a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United on Boxing Day, pundits believe the team needs to focus on securing any European spot rather than aiming for the top four. Manager Ruben Amorim faces pressure to improve after a poor previous campaign.
Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 win against Newcastle United on Boxing Day, climbing from seventh to fifth in the Premier League table. This result came without the distraction of European fixtures, marking the first time in over a decade that the club is absent from both the Champions League and Europa League. Last season, United finished a disappointing 15th, heightening expectations for improvement under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Friday Night Football ahead of the match, Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, acknowledged United's summer spending but set realistic expectations. "I don't think they'll finish in the top four but they need to get into Europe," he said. "The bar has been set so low after last season. They spent a good chunk of change in the summer. They should be where they are in the table, qualifying for Europe. The Champions League would be a step too far. They were really good at Aston Villa."
Roy Keane, ex-United captain, was more critical, emphasizing defensive vulnerabilities. "I'm not convinced," he stated. "He [Ruben Amorim] got a pre-season and signings, they have no Europe but they are still not showing it. We are still waiting. The question marks are still there for me, we talk about top four but they are not ready for that."
Keane further noted, "Man Utd just need to be better. We are not going to compare them to the great defensive teams like Arsenal but they need to be better. I still feel that any time I watched Man Utd, as good as they are going forward, teams seem to create chances so easily. If you want to make progress as a football club you have to be harder to beat. They need to improve or we will keep talking about the same problems. If they keep giving up chances and goals like they are, they will never make the next step."
Amorim's side now aims to build on this win to secure European qualification, though both pundits see Champions League as out of reach.
