Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has expressed his belief that Manchester United lacks the necessary quality to be a genuine contender for the Champions League title this season.
Returning to the competition for the first time since 2023, United commenced their league phase with a straightforward 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring for the Red Devils, followed by rapid goals from Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko, which placed Michael Carrick’s team firmly in control by half-time.
In the second half, Lisandro Martinez capitalised on a goalkeeping error to add to the scoreline, as the Red Devils returned to winning form ahead of the eagerly awaited Manchester derby on Sunday.
During their last Champions League campaign, United did not progress beyond the group stages, but they aim to avoid a similar outcome in the newly structured league phase.
Carragher, a former Champions League winner, remains sceptical about the Red Devils’ chances of being serious contenders as the tournament progresses.
He told CBS Sports, “Probably not just yet,” when questioned about United’s potential in this year’s Champions League.
“Now, I’m not trying to be patronising in any way. Manchester United, as I’ve just stated, are one of the largest clubs in the world.
“However, to enter the competition now with their current squad and expect them to achieve significant success against other clubs of their stature, they just haven’t got the quality right now, I think, to go deep into the competition.”
Manchester United will face their city rivals, Manchester City, in the Premier League over the weekend.