Denis Law believes Manchester United can kick on during the second half of the season and retain their Barclays Premier League crown.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side travel to Hull on Sunday on the back of their fifth league defeat of the season after suffering an emphatic 3-0 reverse at Fulham last time out.
United beat Hull 1-0 on the final day of last season, a result which did not prevent the Tigers celebrating avoiding the drop on the same day.
The Red Devils have been hindered by injuries to key players but former United and Scotland star Law expects their problems to be only short term.
He told MUTV's Red Cafe programme: "They have been written off several times but we are only halfway through the season.
"United are not as good as they could be but at the end there will only two teams in it, Chelsea and United.
"United will definitely be in the Champions League next season even if they do not win it."
Ferguson will come face to face again with referee Alan Wiley at the weekend.
The United boss was recently banned from the touchline after questioning the official's fitness.
Meanwhile Law claims that when Ferguson retires it will mark the end of a remarkable dynasty.
Ferguson, who turns 68 on January 31, has no plans to call it a day again after reversing an earlier decision to quit.
Law believes Ferguson will go down in history as one of the greats alongside fellow Scots Sir Matt Busby, the former United manager, Liverpool's Bill Shankly and Celtic's Jock Stein.
"When Alex retires maybe at 95 or 100, he will probably turn out to be the greatest manager the game has ever seen," said Law.
"When you look at the great managers, Busby, Shankly and Stein, he will be in that category.
"They all came from working-class backgrounds and football has always been a working-class game.
"There is a passion among Scottish managers that other countries do not have.
"Coming from a hard working area they wanted to entertain the people but those days have gradually gone."
