DENIS IRWIN SAYS Manchester United’s main objective this season is to make a return to the Champions League having missed out this season.
A seventh-place finish in the league under caretaker manager Ryan Giggs in 2014 saw the Premier League club go without European football for the first time since 1990.
Currently fourth in the table behind Chelsea, Manchester City and surprise package Southampton, United are on course to qualify for the continent’s elite club competition but have looked uninspiring at times in Louis van Gaal’s maiden campaign in English football.
They host Burnley at Old Trafford tonight but, after the 1-1 away to West Ham last Sunday, Irwin believes they should be winning more games on the road.
“There’s no doubt they are in a transitional period,” Irwin said. “One defeat in the last 17 matches but within that there hasn’t been a huge consistency in performances. I still think we are trying to find our way away from home.
“They got beaten to Southampton in a game they probably shouldn’t have lost but other than that their home form has been fine.
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“They will accept that they are in a battle to finish in the top four this year. They are still involved in the FA Cup but it’s a huge priority finishing in the top four because it has been strange at Old Trafford this year with no Champions League.
“There is a big void to fill there. For a club who is used to playing in the Champions League it has not been easy to sit on the outside.”
Irwin up against Inter Milan's Giuseppi Bergomi in the Champions League. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Having arrived in 1990 from Oldham, Irwin was managed by Alex Ferguson for his entire trophy-ladened United career. Replacing the Scot may have proved too big a task for David Moyes but the former Ireland defender, who nowadays works as an ambassador for the club, says the early signs from Van Gaal are positive.
“He has changed the formations from four at the back to three and injuries have played a huge part to it particularly at the start of the season. Defensively they were conceding too many goals but lately that has been shored up. Now they just need to keep going.
“The manager has come in with huge experience of winning trophies and moulding teams. Whether he was in Germany, Spain or back in his native Holland, he has had great success and the club feel that he is the right man.
“There has been progression this year and it is going to be a time for change. Under Sir Alex, there was a really steady influence on the team and the club for over 26 years and you knew what was what.
“The manager has brought some players in so he is getting to know them and the players are getting to know him and what he wants out of them. But I’ve got to say that there is a really good spirit down there and all the players thoroughly enjoy working with him.
“I think you have seen that in the performances when they have battled and battled even when things haven’t got well.”
Louis van Gaal. Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
The fifth round of the FA Cup will be decided this weekend, with United last to play when they travel to Deepdale to play Championship outfit Preston North End on Monday night.
A first triumph in 11 years would give fans something to shout about but Irwin, who can’t see Chelsea throwing away a seven-point lead at the top, insists the main focus should be their league position.
Top four was the priority from the start of the year,” he added. “An FA Cup run would be a huge bonus if they go on to win it and they have got a tough game against Preston.
“Southampton have done remarkably well to hang in there. Liverpool are getting better again, Spurs and Arsenal are battling away, City have had a fairly tough time of it recently so it has been a strange kind of year as there is only really Chelsea who have shown any kind of consistency.
“They have been fortunate with injuries and suspensions as they have not had too many of them. So it looks like they will on to win the league. This is 14 matches out but they’ve got eight of them at home.”
Denis Irwin and Gaizka Mendieta were in Dublin yesterday to announce details of Setanta Sports’ live coverage of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League for three years from 2015/’16. Irish viewers will have access to 350 live games per season across both competitions through the Setanta Sports Pack
'It has been strange at Old Trafford this year with no Champions League' - Irwin
DENIS IRWIN SAYS Manchester United’s main objective this season is to make a return to the Champions League having missed out this season.
A seventh-place finish in the league under caretaker manager Ryan Giggs in 2014 saw the Premier League club go without European football for the first time since 1990.
Currently fourth in the table behind Chelsea, Manchester City and surprise package Southampton, United are on course to qualify for the continent’s elite club competition but have looked uninspiring at times in Louis van Gaal’s maiden campaign in English football.
They host Burnley at Old Trafford tonight but, after the 1-1 away to West Ham last Sunday, Irwin believes they should be winning more games on the road.
“There’s no doubt they are in a transitional period,” Irwin said. “One defeat in the last 17 matches but within that there hasn’t been a huge consistency in performances. I still think we are trying to find our way away from home.
“They got beaten to Southampton in a game they probably shouldn’t have lost but other than that their home form has been fine.
“They will accept that they are in a battle to finish in the top four this year. They are still involved in the FA Cup but it’s a huge priority finishing in the top four because it has been strange at Old Trafford this year with no Champions League.
“There is a big void to fill there. For a club who is used to playing in the Champions League it has not been easy to sit on the outside.”
Having arrived in 1990 from Oldham, Irwin was managed by Alex Ferguson for his entire trophy-ladened United career. Replacing the Scot may have proved too big a task for David Moyes but the former Ireland defender, who nowadays works as an ambassador for the club, says the early signs from Van Gaal are positive.
“He has changed the formations from four at the back to three and injuries have played a huge part to it particularly at the start of the season. Defensively they were conceding too many goals but lately that has been shored up. Now they just need to keep going.
“The manager has come in with huge experience of winning trophies and moulding teams. Whether he was in Germany, Spain or back in his native Holland, he has had great success and the club feel that he is the right man.
“There has been progression this year and it is going to be a time for change. Under Sir Alex, there was a really steady influence on the team and the club for over 26 years and you knew what was what.
“The manager has brought some players in so he is getting to know them and the players are getting to know him and what he wants out of them. But I’ve got to say that there is a really good spirit down there and all the players thoroughly enjoy working with him.
“I think you have seen that in the performances when they have battled and battled even when things haven’t got well.”
The fifth round of the FA Cup will be decided this weekend, with United last to play when they travel to Deepdale to play Championship outfit Preston North End on Monday night.
A first triumph in 11 years would give fans something to shout about but Irwin, who can’t see Chelsea throwing away a seven-point lead at the top, insists the main focus should be their league position.
“Southampton have done remarkably well to hang in there. Liverpool are getting better again, Spurs and Arsenal are battling away, City have had a fairly tough time of it recently so it has been a strange kind of year as there is only really Chelsea who have shown any kind of consistency.
“They have been fortunate with injuries and suspensions as they have not had too many of them. So it looks like they will on to win the league. This is 14 matches out but they’ve got eight of them at home.”
Denis Irwin and Gaizka Mendieta were in Dublin yesterday to announce details of Setanta Sports’ live coverage of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League for three years from 2015/’16. Irish viewers will have access to 350 live games per season across both competitions through the Setanta Sports Pack
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