Update: Roy Keane and Gary Neville disagree on Man United and what makes successful season News

Manchester United face Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, with Ruben Amorim’s side hoping to use the competition to salvage the club’s disappointing season

Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s season could still be deemed a success – if they win the Europa League – much to the bemusement of Roy Keane.

The former team-mates clashed during the latest episode of the Stick To Football podcast, debating whether silverware could salvage what has otherwise been a dismal campaign for Ruben Amorim’s team.

Despite acknowledging United’s poor domestic form, Neville argued that clinching the Europa League would qualify as success. Responding to Ian Wright’s assertion that a trophy win equates to success no matter the circumstance, Neville said: “I agree.

“There will be a ‘but’, obviously… if you’re winning a trophy during years you’re not winning the league, I always think you’re still keeping momentum.” Keane, however, flatly disagreed.

“Not for Man United,” the Irishman insisted. “For other teams, [just] winning trophies [can be considered success]. [But] the trophy and the competition itself shouldn’t be enough for United. Absolutely not… to lose that many league matches [it can’t be considered a successful season].”

Neville pushed back: “The reason I would say it’s successful is because United couldn’t win the league this season. We knew that at the start. So they could only win three trophies. They could only win the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Europa League.

“So if they win one of those I would say it’s successful because of that. There is a big ‘but’ – they’ve sacked a manager and they’re 14th in the league or 13th in the league – that’s bad.”

Keane replied: “I understand that Man United couldn’t win the league, but is 13th or 14th okay then? All the teams that are mid-table – I’m not even asking Man United to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City – but United should be ahead of Crystal Palace, Fulham, all these teams.

“So how are we going to say that’s success? What’s your bread and butter as a footballer? To win week in, week out. Winning the Europa League is a great way to get into the Champions League, but I wouldn’t say winning that trophy for Man United is a successful season.”

United face Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, with the return leg at Old Trafford set for next week. Should they progress, they’ll meet either Rangers or Athletic Bilbao in the last four.

With a 15-point gap separating them from fifth-placed Newcastle, the Europa League represents United’s only realistic route to Champions League football next season.

While Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday secured the Premier League a fifth automatic Champions League spot, Amorim’s side would still need to leapfrog at least eight teams in the closing weeks to qualify via the league table.

Their fixtures aren’t easy either, with away trips to both Chelsea and Newcastle to come, as well as home game against high-flying Aston Villa on the final day.