3 Reasons why Manchester United could manage to secure a Champions League spot next season

#1 Winning the Europa League is still a possibility

Ajax v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Final

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have to do what Jose Mourinho managed in the 2016-17 season where despite finishing sixth in the league, the ‘Special One’ took Manchester United to the Champions League by winning the Europa League trophy.

The Red Devils may have had a very inconsistent 2019-20 season but are one of the strongest contenders on paper to win this season’s Europa League trophy. Arguably, only Inter Milan, AS Roma, Arsenal and Sevilla could significantly haunt Manchester United’s Europa League dream this season.

With the addition of Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo, the Red Devils are now fully capable of opening a team’s defence as well as grinding out a result by playing direct football.

However, the biggest success of the January transfer window for Solskjaer was he was able to retain the services of Paul Pogba and there are players like Fred, Scott McTominay, Brandon Williams, Daniel James, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka who have gradually improved as the season has gone on.

Add to that, David De Gea, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Juan Mata are seasoned campaigners who will call on their experience and will lead this team to the last rounds of Europa League this season. The Red Devils take on Club Brugge in the first leg of Round of 32 tie on February 20 with Paul Pogba expected to be match fit once again.

Manchester City v Manchester United - Carabao Cup: Semi-Final

Manchester United fans are very excited to see Pogba and Bruno Fernandes link up in the midfield and with Ighalo’s physical presence up top, Anthony Martial can cause havoc from the left-wing in Marcus Rashford’s absence.

If Solskjaer manages to avoid the top teams in the initial knockout rounds and continues to get the results, Manchester United could still fulfill their Champions League ambitions next season. It would allow them to go after their rumoured summer transfer targets – Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, Kalidou Koulibaly and James Maddison.

However, a poor end to the season and Europa League disappointment could set a similar wheel in motion where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sacked in the summer with Mauricio Pochettino potentially taking over and setting an entirely new cultural reboot at Old Trafford.

Whatever happens, the next three months could go a long way in defining where do Manchester United go from here.