By Daily Sports on March 23, 2017
Manchester United should focus on winning the Europa League this season, which would bring the club a trophy they have never won and secure qualification for next season’s Champions League, former manager Alex Ferguson has said.
United are fifth in the Premier League and sit four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, though they have two games in hand on the Merseyside club.
A top-four finish would ensure Champions League qualification but Ferguson, who was in charge at Old Trafford for some 27 years, believes United have a great opportunity to qualify by winning Europe’s second-tier club competition.
“The thing is, we’ve never won the Europa League,” he told ESPN. “We’ve never won UEFA Cup, what it used to be.
And we’ve got a great draw. I’m not saying it’s a certainty, but they’ve got a great chance.
“It’s still a European trophy. And if you win it, you get into the Champions League. The incentive is greater to do that.”
English clubs have failed to win a European title since Chelsea’s Champions League win in 2012.
Ferguson, who won two Champions League trophies and a Cup Winners’ Cup at United, said success on the European front is cyclical.
“In the ’70s, Ajax and Bayern Munich; ’80s, Liverpool; ’90s Italy, AC Milan. And then England had a great spell,” the 75-year-old Scot added.
“At the moment, the cycle is with the Spanish teams. And they’re best, that’s why they’re winning it.
United visit Belgian outfit Anderlecht in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on April 13 before hosting the return a week later. (© Reuters)
•Photo shows Manchester United
Source Daily Sports
Posted March 23, 2017
You may also like...
Tanzania President Splashes Land Gift on Amuneke’s Boys...
Real Hang On for Win after Benzema Brilliance...
Ethiopia Beat Ivory Coast In Afcon Qualifier
NPFL Hotshot Lokosa’s move to Ludogorets in doubt...
Real Madrid 'Make £42m Bid to Sign Kylian...
Italian star Astori dies suddenly
Latest News
Drogba, Ighalo, Mikel shaped my career — Osimhen
My dream is to represent Nigeria at Olympics – Viral jumper Dauda
Dauda shows raw talent, needs urgent grooming – Coach Soetan
Lookman braces for Barca Champions League test
Okoye shifts focus to 2030 World Cup
Record holder Amusan to battle Olympic champ Russell in Eugene
Lagos schools begin chase for glory at 3rd TASG
Arokodare credits tactical call for comeback goal
Eze dumps S’Africa for Nigeria ahead World U-20 champs
7th U-13 JOF Kids Cup: Teams Record Victories As Preliminary Round Hots Up Across Centres
Nwabali not desperate for new club
AFCON drama: Senegal rejects CAF verdict, moves to appeal
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,633 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,961 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,870 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,479 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,406 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,313 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,185 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,723 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,910 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,416 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,815 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,290 views)
Drogba, Ighalo, Mikel shaped my career — Osimhen
My dream is to represent Nigeria at Olympics – Viral jumper Dauda
Dauda shows raw talent, needs urgent grooming – Coach Soetan
Lookman braces for Barca Champions League test
Okoye shifts focus to 2030 World Cup
Record holder Amusan to battle Olympic champ Russell in Eugene
Lagos schools begin chase for glory at 3rd TASG
Arokodare credits tactical call for comeback goal
Eze dumps S’Africa for Nigeria ahead World U-20 champs
7th U-13 JOF Kids Cup: Teams Record Victories As Preliminary Round Hots Up Across Centres
Nwabali not desperate for new club
AFCON drama: Senegal rejects CAF verdict, moves to appeal
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,633 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,961 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,870 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,479 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,406 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,313 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,185 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,723 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,910 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,416 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,815 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,290 views)