Providing Manchester United successfully come through a potentially tricky play-off tie, they will return to the Champions League next season.
For United fans, this provides a sense of a relief, especially after the torrid 2013/14 season, where the Red Devils crashed to a disappointing seventh. However, the appointment of Louis van Gaal along with some new additions, meant the ship was steered and the Dutchman guided the club to a more respectable fourth in his inaugural season.
But what should be expected expect from the return to Europe, or rather what would convey a sense of achievement for the Old Trafford faithful? Without putting a downer on the prospects already, supporters will predominantly agree that winning the trophy will be a stretch too far, and that’s not being pessimistic.
Success for me would be a quarter-final, while the bare minimum we should achieve is qualifying from out of the group. After all, we have held the trophy on three previous occasions. However, considering the strength of the other teams involved; Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to name but a few, winning the competition would surprise us all.
Although, considering the names mooted to be joining the club in the summer, along with the additions last year having one year at the club under their belt, who knows what next season will hold.
Furthermore, fans should be excited that they are finally back in the most prestigious tournament available to European clubs, and although cliché, it really did seem like a long time. Nevertheless, a quarter-final draw would mark some sense of achievement, and it is probably what should be expected from van Gaal’s debut Champions League campaign at the helm of the Theatre of Dreams.
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