Paul Ince has suggested that former club Manchester United will merely be 'covering over the cracks' if they end their season with FA Cup silverware.

The Red Devils have endured another disappointing campaign thus far, having failed to make waves in Europe and also missing out on the Premier League's top four.

United have a chance to end their barren three-year run without a trophy this weekend when they take on Crystal Palace at Wembley, but ex-midfielder Ince believes that the writing is on the wall for under-pressure boss Louis van Gaal, who claimed this week that winning the cup final is more important than qualifying for the Champions League.

"It's not just about winning a trophy," he told Sky Sports News. "[Van Gaal] said winning a cup was probably better than finishing in the top four. But that's ridiculous as far as I'm concerned.

"They need to be in the Champions League and winning the FA Cup doesn't change that. But I think it's more about the style of football the fans have seen this year. It's not the exciting, free-flowing football, creating chances.

"They've struggled to score goals and the tippy-tappy football they have been playing has not been great. If they win it'll just cover over the cracks and if they lose, Ed Woodward will have a decision to make."

Ince spent six years at Old Trafford, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cup crowns.