It’s going to be an exciting end to the season for Manchester United and for bettors across the UK, according to British Gambler’s betting experts. There may be no more European games to be played this term but can United make it into Europe next season?
The top aim of course has to be a top four finish and another season in the Champions League. It’s not just important for the on-field side of the club. Just ask the accountants of clubs such as Chelsea and Tottenham who are missing out on all that Champions League revenue this season.
United’s exit at the group stage wouldn’t have put a smile on the faces of the club owners. Not even getting into the Europa League Knockout play-off round was bad news too. Being transferred to Europe’s second highest competition would at least have given United a second possible route into next season’s Champions League.
With the Champions League being restructured next season, there’s a chance that there may be five English clubs in the Champions League for the 2024-25 competition. It all depends on coefficients so it might be a case of supporting Manchester City and Arsenal and hoping they go as far as they can this season.
After the win at home to West Ham United on Sunday February 4, the Reds are eight points adrift of fourth placed Aston VIlla and six behind Tottenham who are fifth. There’s still a lot of work to be done to be in with a chance of Champions League football next season.
That’s illustrated by the fact the odds of United finishing in the top four are still around the 10/1 mark and 5/1 for a top five finish.
One big problem for the Reds this season has been the number of league goals scored. After 23 games only 31 goals have been scored with 32 conceded. If you’d be placing a bet on who’d be top league scorer at the start of February, it’s unlikely Scott McTominay would have ended up on the betting slip. Nor would you have bet on no player having scored more than six league goals.
There have been some promising signs in recent weeks that the goal scoring problem is being solved. Rasmus Hojlund has finally worked out where the back of the net is and the last five games in all competitions have seen United score at least twice. If Marcus Rashford can also rediscover his scoring touch, then United’s European chances will continue to improve.
Old Trafford has to become a fortress in the coming months. Seven points from the last three Premier League games is another promising sign.
A look at the remaining fixture list shows that there are still several key games to play.
The next three home league games are against Fulham, Everton and Sheffield United. Anything less than nine points from that trio of fixtures would be a massive disappointment. Even more so because it gets a lot harder after those matches.
Three of the last four home league games of the season are against Liverpool, Newcastle United and Arsenal. The other is a nothing less than three points please game against Burnley who could well be relegated by the time they arrive at Old Trafford.
United’s home form may be improving but they need to start beating the top teams again at Old Trafford. That may well be the difference between them qualifying for the Champions League or ending up in either the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
One win in the last five away league games is a big worry. Most United fans probably have a shorter lifespan after the dramatic ending to the game at Wolves.
There are still eight away league games to be played and it’s not the easiest of fixture lists. February 11 sees United away at Aston Villa and it’s a game they dare not lose. Doing so would see the gap to the top four widen even further.
Trips to Luton, Brentford, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are all winnable. That’s not to say there might not be a few anxious moments in store for the Reds.
More difficult on paper are away games at Manchester City, Chelsea and the final day fixture at Brighton and Hove Albion.
It’s going to be an anxious few months for United and almost every game is going to feel like a cup final. A place in the Champions League is still a possibility even if the bookmakers aren’t too hopeful. Continuing to score goals, making Old Trafford a fortress and a big improvement in away results is the key to that possible success.
