'They've got no chance of winning it!' - Roy Keane's brutal prediction about Man Utd's Champions League hopes next season ahead of Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Club

Debate is raging on whether winning the Europa League constitutes a successful season for Manchester United, given their disappointing league form. Some pundits have suggested the club should not qualify for the Champions League by virtue of their Europa League victory, as they sit 15th in the league table, and could well face Tottenham Hotspur, who are 16th, in the final.

Keane believes United should be allowed to play in the Champions League if they are victorious in Bilbao in May, but he does not think they have any hope of being successful in the tournament next season, and believes their main motivation for qualification is financial.

Amid a debate about whether the winner of the Europa League should qualify for the Champions League, Keane said on Stick to Football: "Everyone's saying if United are in it, how big United are, that United are going to be in the Champions League. You're talking like they're a small club, they've got no chance of winning it."

Paul Scholes added: "It'd be embarrassing."

Keane continued: "The way it's panned out now, it'll be huge for the club, and the format might be that they'll win one or two games because of the seeding, but in terms of winning it, United are going 'we have to be in it', they're not talking about winning it! 'We just have to be in it for financial reasons', what a place to be."

United face Athletic at Old Trafford on Thursday. In the other semi-final, Spurs travel to the Arctic circle to play Bodo/Glimt. They lead 3-1.