Manchester United icon Peter Schmeichel has delivered his verdict on where he believes the club will finish the current Premier League season, pointing to a significant improvement on last term's dismal showing.
Schmeichel's Optimistic Prediction
The legendary Danish goalkeeper, speaking on ViaPlay, stated he expects the Red Devils to maintain their current form and secure a finish of fifth or sixth in the table. He directly linked this prediction to the club's summer signings of attackers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, suggesting they provide the quality needed for that position.
"I think fifth or sixth. Fifth is good, but they're fighting with another couple of clubs that are doing quite well," Schmeichel said. "But I think that's the level that Manchester United are at." He added that he would be "delighted" if fifth place secured Champions League qualification, though that depends on the final UEFA coefficient.
Contrasting Views from Other Legends
Not all pundits share Schmeichel's relatively positive outlook. Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby, who was alongside Schmeichel, offered a more cautious assessment. "I think they're quite capable of finishing anywhere between fifth and tenth," Molby remarked, highlighting the inconsistency he sees in United's season.
Ex-United captain Roy Keane also expressed doubts following the team's 1-0 Boxing Day win over Newcastle. Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane said, "I'm not convinced... they have no Europe but they are still not showing it. We are still waiting." He criticised the defensive fragility, arguing the team must become "harder to beat" to make genuine progress.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher ruled out a top-four finish but insisted European qualification is a must. "I don't think they'll finish in the top four but they need to get into Europe," Carragher said, noting the low bar set by last season's 15th-place disaster and the significant summer investment.
The Context of United's Season
The backdrop to these predictions is a season of stark contrast for Ruben Amorim's side. After the catastrophe of finishing 15th last campaign with no silverware, United have no European football and suffered an early Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town.
This has left a focused schedule, and the team currently sits sixth in the Premier League, just three points off the top four and level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea following their recent win over Newcastle. The consensus among observers is that while clear progress has been made, significant questions remain about the team's ceiling this season.
