Christian Eriksen claims that Manchester United is ‘fortunate’ to have avoided relegation following a harsh assessment of their record-low finish in the Premier League.

In a dramatic conclusion to the Premier League season, Aston Villa’s hopes of securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League were dashed following a contentious defeat to Manchester United. The match, which saw United triumph 2-0, left Villa fans reeling as their aspirations slipped away.

Christian Eriksen, who played a pivotal role in United’s victory, has openly acknowledged the club’s struggles this season, admitting they were “lucky” to avoid relegation. With a dismal finish of 15th in the league, just three points above the drop zone, manager Ruben Amorim described the campaign as nothing short of a “disaster.”

Despite the opportunity to salvage some pride with a potential trophy, United fell short in the UEFA Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, further compounding their woes. Eriksen, who scored in what was his final game for the club, reflected on the season’s disappointments, stating, “I think unfortunately there’s been a lot of lows this season with the games, and obviously the final was the missing piece. It’s football.”

The Danish international expressed relief that the team managed to stay afloat in the Premier League, saying, “For me now, I think people are lucky that we are where we are, not relegated with the team with the season we’ve had.” He remains optimistic about the future, adding, “Next season it has to be better, and I’m sure it will be. I’m looking forward to watching it from the sides.”

Amorim, who has only managed to secure seven league wins since taking the reins in November, echoed Eriksen’s sentiments during his address to the Old Trafford faithful. He assured supporters that “the good days are coming,” and Eriksen is hopeful that with time, the team will improve under the 40-year-old’s guidance.

“I think you’ve seen progress – of course, the results haven’t really shown that,” Eriksen noted. “The football we came from to this is obviously going to take time to adapt, and obviously it’s been far below the standard of the club and the players here.”

The midfielder expressed confidence in the squad’s potential, stating, “I think the players individually are very, very good players, and they should never be where we are in the table. It’s up to them to turn around, but yeah, I’m confident they’ll be a very different team next season, I’m sure.”

Reflecting on the unwavering support from fans throughout a tumultuous season, Eriksen admitted he was “surprised” by their loyalty. “There have been so many games this season where they could have caused a lot of chaos, where we’ve been disappointed with our football,” he said. “But obviously, the fans, I think to our surprise, really have supported us.”

The 33-year-old’s penalty against Villa marked his only league goal of the season, but he was pleased to finish on a high note, saying, “I was happy to see that go in and finish off like I started: with a smile on my face.”

As Eriksen’s time at Old Trafford comes to a close, he revealed that while there are “options” for his future, nothing is set in stone. Reflecting on his three years at the club, he said, “I’ve really enjoyed my time. It’s a club I’ve always looked up to – the club size and everything around it.”

He added, “I’ve loved the pressure, loved the style of play with the different managers and the people at the club. I mean, they’ve taken really good care of me and my family, so in that sense I’ve had three very, very good years. Obviously, it’s been a lot of ups and downs in football, but I think in general I’ve had a special time.”