Paul Scholes has come out recently to say that even if Manchester United lift the Europa League, he would rather have had Arsenal’s season despite not winning anything.
The 2024/25 Premier League campaign has been nothing short of total a failure for Manchester United, with the Reds looking to post their worst ever points total and lowest ever league position, finding themselves in 15th, two points above 17th, with three games to go.
The Reds came into this season off the back of an FA Cup win and an eighth-place league finish, with Erik ten Hag looking to build on his previous campaign and improve going into what would be his third season at Old Trafford. After a string of poor performances, Ten Hag was dismissed, with the club bringing in Ruud Van Nistelrooy on a temporary basis before appointing Ruben Amorim in November.
Amorim’s distinct style of play has been a tough change to adjust to as the season has gone on, with the manager having to coach players through games at times in an attempt to get the most out of his 3-4-2-1 formation.
Although the league form has plummeted, United find themselves in the final of the Europa League against Tottenham Hotspur after a run to the final that included an epic quarter-final win over Olympic Lyon, and a semi-final rout over Athletic Bilbao that saw them win 7-1 on aggregate.
Although silverware is always something that uplifts the mood at a club, and the potential of United playing Champions League next season, it can’t be an excuse for United’s awful Premier League form, something that Paul Scholes agrees with.
Scholes says Amorim can learn from Arteta
Despite not winning any silverware for a number of seasons, Mikel Arteta’s reign at Arsenal can be seen as a success, and a lot of parallels can be drawn between United and Arsenal.
Both have had legendary managers, and experienced turmoil following their departures, but Arteta has restored a sense of belief within the fan base, and put the club in a much better position for the future, with a number of second-place finishes, and a Champions League semi-final.
Despite the chances of United having silverware at the end of this season, the club legend said he would swap that season for Arsenal’s in a heartbeat, which may be controversial amongst supporters.
Speaking to TNT, Scholes said: “I think Mikel Arteta has done an absolutely brilliant job at Arsenal since he first joined the club. He could possibly finish second for the third year in a row and I think Ruben Amorim can take a lot from what Arteta has done over these last five to six years at Arsenal.”
“Imagine if Amorim can get United up to second in the Premier League and into the semi-final of the Champions League in the next three or four years. I would swap United’s season this year for Arsenal’s campaign even if they go on and win the Europa League. All day long.”
What does success look like next season for United?
While Arteta is now in his fifth season at the helm at Arsenal, Amorim has only had six months in one of the hottest seats in football, so they are very much at different points in their clubs’ rebuilding.
The main objective going into next season has to be getting the right players in that are familiar with Amorim’s tactical play-style so that there will be no teething issues with potential signings as seen by some of the players this season.
There must also be a number of outgoings this summer, with United looking to only have around £20 million to spend before departures are taken into account. It’s important for players that have potentially aged out of the squad, or simply don’t fit an Amorim side to find new clubs, and the crucial thing is to have all the players pulling in the same direction, and have a strong team cohesion.
The most invaluable thing that Amorim needs going into next year is time, something that not many managers get nowadays. While he has received reassurances from INEOS about the safety of his position at United, we’ve seen before how quickly things can change.
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