Despite the grim situation Manchester United appears to be drifting into, Mikael Silvestre, a former star of the club, remains optimistic that current manager, Ruben Amorim, can steer the ship to safety. According to Silvestre, there are still two golden opportunities for the club to turn the tide this season – by securing either the FA Cup or the Europa League title.
Silvestre, a retired defender who donned the Red Devils jersey with pride, expressed his view during an interview with Soccerex. He said, “Winning a trophy under the current circumstances would be an enormous success this season, considering the team’s form and the state they are in. Whether it’s the FA Cup or the Europa League, either would be a significant achievement for the club.”
The 47-year-old former star emphasized the importance of the Europa League, saying, “The Europa League would be extraordinary; that would be my choice because it grants you direct access to Europe next season. When you look at the standings, the European positions seem unattainable at the moment, so I am hoping they can pull through and clinch the title.”
Manchester United is set to face Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup, while a showdown with Real Sociedad awaits them in the Europa League Round of 16. Silvestre believes that a Europa League victory could be the lifeline Amorim needs to resurrect the season.
Silvestre also noted that a turnaround would require patience and resources. “The path to recovery will certainly be lengthy. You have to consider the substantial funds required for changes, and contracts need to run their course. It’s going to take time. People need to be patient and resourceful.”
Silvestre further suggested that the club should focus on nurturing talent from their academy, stating, “For me, the most critical aspect would be to emphasize developing players from the academy. It’s cost-effective and also helps in building a strong team DNA, which ultimately strengthens the club.”
The former United star’s comments underscore the need for patience, resilience, and strategic planning for the club to navigate this challenging phase. It remains to be seen whether Amorim can indeed pull off a ‘gigantic’ success this season, as Silvestre hopes.
This story was originally reported by Stretty News and has been shared with permission.