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Manchester United Legend Says Season Could Be a Failure

By Keegan Anderson

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 10: Louis van Gaal manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on May 10, 2016 in London, England. West Ham United are playing their last ever home match at the Boleyn Ground after their 112 year stay at the stadium. The Hammers will move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 10: Louis van Gaal manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on May 10, 2016 in London, England. West Ham United are playing their last ever home match at the Boleyn Ground after their 112 year stay at the stadium. The Hammers will move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /
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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says it will be a failed season if the team misses Champions League qualification.

Manchester United are set to miss Champions League play for the second time in three seasons, suggesting the team hasn’t progressed under Louis van Gaal.

The Red Devils will rely on Swansea City to beat Manchester City on Championship Sunday after failing to capitalize on their opportunity against West Ham. Following City’s draw with Arsenal on the weekend, Van Gaal’s squad had the chance to move into the top four of the Premier League with a win against the Hammers.

But it was all for naught, as the team fell 3-2 in their final match at Upton Park. With just one match left in the 2015/16 season, Manchester United will need a miracle to finish among the Champions League qualifiers. But, as the Old Trafford faithful will be painfully aware of, anything can happen on the final Sunday of the campaign.

The recent proceedings have forced Rio Ferdinand to speak out against his former club. At the Telegraph Business of Sport conference, the Manchester United legend said:

"“If they don’t qualify for the Champions League, it’s not a successful season. That’s quite fair to say. If they get their hands on the FA Cup, that’s a great achievement, but in my time if you’d won a trophy, you’d done well – but you’ve got to get into the Champions League as well, and I think that’s the case even more so today."

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"“[Reaching] the Champions League maybe outweighs winning sometimes, even the FA Cup in terms of the commercial options of a football club. Finishing in the Champions League places is the only place Manchester United should be finishing. That’s got to be the minimum demand at that football club. That’s what it was when I was there.”"

All evidence suggests that, coming into the season, the bare minimum expectations for Louis van Gaal would be a top four finish. But, for whatever reason, Ed Woodward is waiting for the team to be mathematically eliminated from qualifying before he makes a decision on the Dutch manager’s future. And that decision may not even be to sack Van Gaal, with recent reports suggesting he could see out the last year of his contract.

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When David Moyes was in charge, he was given very little leeway regarding his position in the table. Granted, the team did finish further down in the League and missed Europa League qualification. But the Scotsman was out before the end of April. Van Gaal has been afforded a much longer leash during this tumultuous season.

As Ferdinand pointed out, there’s still the possibility of winning the FA Cup, but it would offer little consolation if the team does miss out on the Champions League. The financial detriment to the club would be massive, further putting strain on the future of Manchester United regardless of the next manager.

To make matters worse, the team may be forced to play in the Europa League next season. Though it would present additional opportunity for younger players to get involved, the competition offers little financial incentive and would require the next manager to bring in additional depth with more mediocre players.

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All of which is to say that the results of Championship Sunday will be massively important. If City defeat Swansea, it seals Manchester United’s exit from Champions League play. But if United lose and West Ham beat Stoke, it would be a quick fall out of European competition altogether. As the old adage goes, it may be an all or nothing scenario for the Reds.

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