Scholes: United Will Achieve Both Goals

Paul Scholes believes Manchester United will achieve both season-ending goals of winning the Europa League and finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

The Reds are currently fifth in the English top-flight table, four points behind Liverpool with two games in hand, and face Anderlecht in the quarter-finals of the Europa League in April.

Jose Mourinho has admitted that, if he had to choose, he would prefer to win the Europa League this term as a means of securing Champions League qualification for his side in 2017/18.

But speaking to MUTV ahead of Saturday’s Legends match against a PFA Australian XI in Perth, Scholes declared United could do both.

"It has to be one of those ways but I think, both ways, they will do it," the midfield great said. "The league is going to be tough and they have got three crucial away games at Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City.

"If they can come out of them with five, possibly six points, then I think it will be very good and that will set them up for the top four.

"With the Europa League, I think they are rightly favourites. They are by far the biggest club left in it and have probably got the best squad. Lyon could potentially be the team they have to worry about and it is not going to be straightforward, but they have got a great chance of winning the Europa League."

Scholes has enjoyed watching United this season and feels Mourinho’s team are playing the kind of football most Reds fans appreciate.

"The last couple of years were a little bit tough to watch and I think he has steadied the ship now," the 42-year-old said. "They are a team that is exciting again.

"The league position should probably be a little bit better than it is really; they have dropped some really silly points, especially at home, but they are creating chances and they look like a United team everybody expects and wants to watch again."