4 Reasons Why Man Utd's Win Against Olympiakos Is Still Papering Over The Cracks

2. How Will They Improve With No Champions League Next Year?

The reality for United fans is that the prospect of securing Champions League football next season is very slim. In the Premier League they are 17 points behind their great rivals Man City, with City having 2 games in hand. United also must play City, as well as facing difficult trips to Goodison and St James' Park respectively. Whilst not mathematically impossible, it seems clear that United will be embroiled in the battle for 6th place this season. The battle for sixth is well within their grasp but it does also include Newcastle and Everton; it is by no means a formality that United will have European football of any description next season. Let's not forget of course that United are still in this year's Champions League. If they lifted that trophy it would see them secure a place in next years competition. United have won it before and they may well win it again, after all "anything is possible" in a cup competition, so who's to say they can't win it? Bayern Munich, that's who. It is difficult to see United getting past the current holders, especially with Alexander Buttner likely to line up (in Evra's absence due to suspension) against Arjen Robben. United are joint last favourites with Dortmund to win this years competition and let's face it, how often are the bookies wrong? So whilst not impossible, it is highly implausible to suggest United will qualify by winning this years Champions League. Without the lure of Champions League football for prospective players, and the bucket loads of money for the clubs transfer kitty, how are United going to attract the players of the requisite standard to move forward? Last season Spurs spent their Gareth Bale money on players whom most tipped to shine and catapult Spurs towards a top 4 spot this year. They did so well to attract these players without Champions League football we all said, but the expectations have proven to be far too much for them. We also have to ask whether the sheer pull of United's name has the same magnetism it once did. Sir Alex was obviously a huge factor for incoming players, who could blossom under his tutelage. However these days the attraction seems to be less strong. Ask yourself, would Toni Kroos want to leave Bayern Munich to pull on the United shirt? Would Marco Reus swop Dortmund for United? Worryingly for United they may be left fighting for out of favour players rather than the very best.