Paul Scholes has explained where he feels Rúben Amorim must guide his Manchester United squad to in the Premier League next season.
Rúben Amorim has a lot of work on his hands this summer as he looks to rectify Manchester United’s worst season in recent history.
In 2024/25, the Old Trafford club finished 15th in the Premier League table and failed to secure any silverware for the first time in three seasons, losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur and getting knocked out of both domestic cups.
However, the club have been active in the summer transfer market, having signed Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško for just over £200 million, filling some much-needed gaps in the squad.
Their first game of the competitive domestic season comes against Arsenal at Old Trafford in mid-August, with Amorim keen to hit the ground running after a good pre-season tour of the United States.
United must finish in the top six, says Scholes
Speaking on The Overlap, United legend and former midfielder Paul Scholes was asked where he believes is an acceptable league finish for Amorim next season.
The former England international explained that, using the example of Nottingham Forest’s impressive league campaign last season, United should be able to secure a spot in the top six of the Premier League by May 2026.
“You see Nottingham Forest last year; it doesn’t have to take five to ten years to get back where you want to be,” Scholes explained.
“I still think there’s issues, although it’s looking better, I still think that there are issues with the team. As we mentioned in midfield, I don’t want to go through it again.
“I think top six would be more than acceptable at this point. As much as you don’t want to say that, as I always think Man United should aim for the very best, should aim for the highest… I think there’s too many good teams now.
“I think your Liverpool, your City, your Chelsea are on the up. Arsenal, I didn’t even mention, Aston Villa, Newcastle. I think there’s a lot of competition now to get in that top six.”
There’s a big difference between 5th and 6th
While top six is a very generic and normal aim for big teams in England, the fact there are now five Champions League spots available to Premier League sides this summer is a major factor at play.
While the top four of the league table is set to be battled out by Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, there is a 5th spot up for grabs, which United will be targeting to get the side back into Europe’s elite competition.
If United finish 5th, the revenue boost and Champions League spot will work wonders for the next steps of Amorim’s long-term plan, while finishing 6th will only hand them a Europa League spot.
While the Europa League will certainly provide United with an upgrade compared to no European football next season, the difference between finishing 6th and securing the Europa League, and coming 5th and securing Champions League football, cannot be underestimated.
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