Manchester United are in contention for European qualification after missing out last season under Ruben Amorim, but the head coach has a lot to prove at Old Trafford.
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher believe Champions League qualification is a step too far for Manchester United this season. The Red Devils went into their Boxing Day match against Newcastle sitting seventh in the Premier League table.
Ruben Amorim is under pressure to do more after the Red Devils finished 15th last season. There will be no European competition to distract him from his domestic performances as the Portuguese coach aims to return to midweek football next season.
It is the first time in more than a decade that United have not played Champions League or Europa League football, meaning they have a clear target to aim for. Former Liverpool defender Carragher believes they should be in contention and deserve their current position.
Qualifying for Europe’s top competition would be a step too far in his view. “I don’t think they’ll finish in the top four, but they need to get into Europe,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Friday Night Football.
“The bar has been set very low since last season. They spent quite a bit of change in the summer. They should be in a position in the table to qualify for Europe. The Champions League would be a step too far. They were really good at Aston Villa.”
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Keane insists there are many question marks over the club’s performance and Amorim still has much to prove at United. “I’m not convinced,” he said.
“He (Ruben Amorim) got the pre-season and the contract. They don’t have Europe, but they haven’t shown it yet. We’re still waiting. There are still question marks. We’re talking about the top four, but they’re not ready for that.”
The former United captain believes United still have a way to go. “Man United need to be better,” he said.
“I’m not going to compare them to a great defensive team like Arsenal, but they need to get better. Every time I watch Man Utd, I still feel as good as they are going forward. It looks like the team is creating chances so easily.”
“If we want to progress as a football club, we have to make it harder to lose. They need to improve, otherwise we’ll keep talking about the same problems. If they keep conceding chances and goals like this, they’ll never take the next step.”
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