The only hope of Manchester United on silverware this season – and qualifying for the Champions League – Rest on winning the Europa League
Roy Keane says that winning the Europa League would not represent a success for Manchester United – even though it is the only trophy they can win this season.
Ruben Amorim's side is gone tonight to Lyon in the first stage of their quarter -final draw. Winning the Europa League and qualify for next season's Champions League to £ 100 million for United. But former United Captain Keane said that his old club should establish their sights than the Europa League and claimed that lifting the trophy should not be a reason for celebration.
“Not that trophy, no,” said Keane, speaking on the stick to football podcast. “Not for Manchester United, perhaps for other teams who win that trophy. There is a plus because it will bring them to the Champions League, but the trophy and that competition should not be enough for United, absolutely not.”
Another former united skipper, Gary Neville, did not agree with Keane and said that winning the Europa League Amorim and his players would enable it to save something from a different gloomy season.
“The reason I would say that it will be successful is because United could not win the competition this season, we knew that immediately from the start,” said Neville. “So they could only win three trophies – the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League. If they won one of them, I would say that that is successful.
“There is a big” but ” – they have fired a manager and are 13th in the competition and that is bad.”
United Face Lyon with Kobbie Mainoo back in the fold, but Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven remain due to injury on the sidelines. Matthijs de Ligt and Toby Collyer are also from the first stage on Thursday.
“Matta has a problem in his foot,” Amorim added. “We try to assess. We still don't have the data he can return. Toby has a small problem in his leg, so we hope to have it in a few weeks.”