Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane reckons his old club are “certs” to secure Champions League qualification. The Sky Sports pundit’s remarks represented an 11-word reversal of his earlier stance that United weren’t prepared to compete in Europe’s premier tournament.

The Red Devils defeated Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday afternoon to consolidate their hold on third place in the Premier League. Strikes from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, sandwiching a Ross Barkley leveller, saw United establish a three-point cushion over third-placed Villa ahead of Liverpool‘s fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

Michael Carrick’s team also sit six points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, with fifth position likely sufficient to secure Champions League football based on the collective performances of English sides in Europe this campaign.

And Keane now feels assured his former employers will return to Europe’s top-tier competition for the first time since 2023. The 54-year-old considers United certainties to qualify.

He stated: “Yeah I think certs for it. No distractions, just focus on the games, get some recovery. Villa looked a bit flat today [after playing in Europa League on Thursday], United in the second half were pretty comfortable.

“If you give players like Bruno time and space, you’re going to be punished. I think United are absolute certs for that Champions League spot.”

Keane’s perspective marks a shift from the era when Ruben Amorim was at the helm. United struggled to convince under the ex-Sporting manager, who was dismissed in January whilst the Red Devils occupied sixth place in the Premier League standings.

United’s difficulties under Amorim prompted Keane to declare in December last year that his former side would fall short of Champions League qualification.

He said: “I’m not convinced. He [Ruben Amorim] got a pre-season and signings, they have no Europe but they are still not showing it.

“We are still waiting. The question marks are still there for me, we talk about top four but they are not ready for that.”

United resume their campaign on Friday night at Bournemouth (8pm GMT). They subsequently face no further fixtures until following the international break, when they host Leeds on April 13.