Manchester United are in the Premier League's top six, so can Ruben Amorim's side earn a place in Europe next season?
Manchester United are up to sixth in the Premier League after beating Wolves on Monday night
Manchester United enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 victory at Wolves on Monday night which propelled Ruben Amorim's side into the top six of the Premier League table. The Reds have thrown away plenty of points from winning positions this season suggesting there could be more to come if United can find some consistency.
Yet on the flip side, United under Amorim have struggled to build momentum and it's not easy to make a firm case that the campaign will end in European football as a result. So can United find a top six Premier League place come May and secure continental football? We asked our United team for their verdict.
Steven Railston
We didn't learn anything from United's win against Wolves on Monday night. You only need to look at the Premier League table to see how bad Wolves have been, but seeing them in the flesh convinced me they have a strong chance of beating Derby County's record of just 11 points in 2007/2008.
Wolves are shockingly bad, and they threatened to turn the game into a contest at the end of the first half. United won comfortably in the end, but a better team would have been out of sight by the interval.
Having said that, United moved to sixth in the Premier League table thanks to the victory and they have now suffered just one defeat in their last eight matches, albeit that was an awful loss against Everton.
It's a strange season in the top-flight, with just six points separating fourth and 13th, but that must be seen as an opportunity, as a string of good results will put daylight between United and their rivals.
Returning to Europe is the internal target, but United must qualify for the Champions League specifically, and they can achieve that aim if they stamp out their occasional dismal displays.
Although I don't want to sit on the fence, December will tell us more about whether United can return to the Champions League. It feels like a make-or-break few weeks for Amorim.
Jeremy Cross
Predicting what might happen to Manchester United in the future has become a futile exercise. Because this United side under Ruben Amorim has become consistent for how inconsistent it is.
A resounding win at Wolves is hardly the platform from which to start judging them. Because a pub team could probably give Wolves a game these days. United, however, are showing genuine signs of progress. The league table proves this, because United are joint fifth.
But the fact United share this place alongside Chelsea, the official Club World Cup champions, speaks volumes for how ridiculous and unpredictable this domestic season is shaping up to be. Crystal Palace are fourth, Aston Vila third, while Sunderland, Everton and Brighton are challenging for the top four.
United have the talent to secure Champions League football, let alone just a place in Europe. But the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes need to keep performing. United need to gain genuine momentum. Which recent history has taught us, is easier said than done.
Jack Flintham
It is hard to judge Manchester United fairly off the back of the victory over Wolves on Monday night. The hosts were embarrassingly below par and clearly do not have the quality to compete in the Premier League this season. That being said, United can only beat what is in front of them.I was impressed by their reaction in the second half at Molinuex. Last season, conceding on the stroke of half-time to a team battling against relegation, away from home, could have resulted in a disastrous night and the momentum slipping away.Instead, they knuckled down and showed professionalism to overcome their opponents which they deserve credit for. Will United get back into Europe off the back of that result? Potentially, but I still feel the Champions League is a stretch at this moment in time.United have not shown the consistency needed this season to sustain a push for the Champions League spots. Results against the likes of West Ham and Everton are what will let the Reds down in their push for the top four. If United want to be seen as serious contenders for the Champions League, they need to be winning those games. One point from a possible six was not good enough.The festive period is now crucial for United. If they are still in around the top four by the end of it, they could well have a greater chance of the Champions League. Right now, Europa League is a safer bet.
Andy Dunn
Thirteen, three, twelve, twenty, sixteen, nineteen. No, not my lottery numbers but the Premier League positions of Manchester United’s next six opponents. Ruben Amorim’s men are in an extended run of fixtures that should propel them into the top four and they have as pleasant a festive schedule as a manager of an elite club could wish for.
There are three away matches in that run but the longest trip is the 88 miles to Villa Park. On paper, that looks to be United’s toughest game before the Manchester derby at the Etihad on January 17, but while there have been some disappointing draws recently, Amorim’s side has lost only once in nine games. Wolves, of course, are cannon fodder. They might well go down as the worst team in Premier League history but scoring four away from home is a confidence-booster.
Amorim will miss Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui when they depart for duty at the African Cup of Nations but other managers are in a similar boat. And the United boss has Benjamin Sesko returning shortly, along with Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
Out of the Carabao Cup and not involved in Europe, Amorim also has plenty of time on the training ground to fine-tune his plans. United are no world-beaters but this season’s Premier League does not have a three or four-strong group of powerhouse teams.
The bookmakers currently have United down to finish sixth in the table but they can aim higher than that. Considering the momentum they should get from the next half-dozen matches, Amorim and the United hierarchy should be very, very disappointed if they do not make the top four.