Gary Neville gives verdict on what makes a successful season for Man Utd, Roy Keane is far from convinced

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Manchester United will resume their unbeaten European campaign when they take on Lyon on Thursday night.

While it’s been a turbulent season for Manchester United, Ruben Amorim’s side can still win a trophy, though Rasmus Hojlund insists it wouldn’t ‘save’ the 2024/25 campaign.

The Reds are positioned 13^th in the Premier League but can still qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League.

United will aim to put one foot in the semi-finals when they travel to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford next week.

That means winning the Europa League is United’s main objective for the rest of the season.

There is significantly more pressure on United when it comes to the Europa League because we’re by far the biggest club left in the competition.

Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s season can be a success

Although it has been a season to forget so far, former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes it can still be salvaged, if the Reds go all the way in Europe.

That would not only see Ruben Amorim win his first trophy as United’s head coach, but it would also guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League which in turn generates more money for the club.

Moreover, United have almost no chance of playing in Europe next term unless they win the Europa League.

Neville claims winning the Europa League will be enough to ensure success.

“The reason I’d say it’ll be successful is because United couldn’t win the league this season, we knew that right from the start, so they could only win three trophies – the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League,” Neville said on the latest Stick to Football podcast.

“If they won one of them, I’d say that’s successful. There is a big but – they’ve sacked a manager and are 13^th in the league and that is bad.”

Roy Keane disagrees with Gary Neville

After listening to Gary Neville’s verdict on United’s season, Roy Keane shared his view that a trophy won’t remove the taint of disappointment experienced throughout the campaign.

Keane stressed it takes more to be successful at United and he’d know after winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999 (suspended for final).

In response to Neville, Keane said: “Not that trophy, no. Not for Manchester United, maybe for other teams winning that trophy.

“There is a plus to it because it’ll get them into the Champions League, but the trophy and that competition shouldn’t be enough for United, absolutely not.”

The reality is United haven’t performed at a level that warrants Champions League football. Our shortcomings in Europe’s most prestigious competition last season proved that.