Manchester United aren’t just fighting to keep this season alive - it’s next season too

It's a make-or-break week for Manchester United. Fall to Real Sociedad over two legs in their Europa League last-16 tie and their season will be over by mid-March, and the campaign will limp to a miserable and entirely forgettable end.

Win against the La Liga side and possibilities will remain. That will set up a quarter-final tie against Lyon or FCSB, and the final in Bilbao will feel within reach. That would put an unexpected gloss on this season, but it would also provide a significant boost in qualification to Europe for next term.

A Champions League place is on offer for the winners of the Europa League and after United's FA Cup exit on Sunday, that is now the only route back into continental competition for them this season. A competition that was the priority a week ago is now do or die for Ruben Amorim's side.

Putting a run together in Europe will have its advantages this season. It could boost confidence within a fragile-looking squad, give the fans something to enjoy in the final months of the season and offer some nights to remember at Old Trafford and abroad. But combine recent performances with an untimely injury record, and it's clear they are up against it, probably even against a Sociedad side are ninth in La Liga, albeit it is a congested table from sixth downwards.

This United squad aren't just fighting to keep this season alive in San Sebastian and Manchester over the next week, however. You could make a strong argument that they are fighting to keep next season alive.

In doing so, they might be sealing their own fate in some way, but the limitations of this squad in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system have been laid bare over the last few months. It's clear significant surgery is required to give Amorim a chance