With the Premier League on hold until next weekend, Manchester United will focus on playing cup games.
One of the few opponents the Red Devils have defeated twice this season is Fulham, whom they will meet at Old Trafford on Sunday in the FA Cup fifth round. With a spot in the quarterfinals on the line, Ruben Amorim will understand the significance of a victory.
The first leg of United’s Europa League last-16 matchup with Real Sociedad will take place in Spain on Thursday.
Amorim’s debut season as United manager might be greatly influenced by both competitions, but he will need to make wise team decisions.
Obi set for FA Cup opportunity
Hotshot at Manchester United’s academy For Sunday’s FA Cup match, Chido Obi is anticipated to start or at least be on the bench.
After joining from Arsenal last summer, the 17-year-old has been scoring goals for pleasure at the youth level and has lately made two first-team substitute appearances. Sunday might be his first time playing at Old Trafford because both of those were away from home.
The reason for this is that Obi was left off of United’s under-18 team, which defeated Arsenal 3-2 on Friday to go to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals.
Amorim’s three-word message to Onana
Ahead of his probable benching against Fulham, Ruben Amorim has advised struggling Manchester United keeper Andre Onana to “forget the past.” A series of mistakes have been committed by Onana, who the Red Devils spent £47 million for in 2023.
Onana’s mix-up with Patrick Dorgu on Wednesday gave Ipswich the lead. Amorim had a message for Onana at his pre-match press conference, despite the fact that Altay Bayindir is expected to start against Fulham after playing the previous two rounds.
“We just have to support Andre, like we support all the players, and prepare the next game,” the manager of Manchester United stated. “Forget about the past and prepare the future.”
Ex-Man Utd star fuels the fire
Andreas Pereira, a midfielder for Fulham, feels that Manchester United’s victories over them in their two Premier League games this season were “a little lucky.” After Fulham’s 2023 FA Cup quarterfinal loss to United, Pereira, 29, is back at Old Trafford with the goal of leading his team to a historic victory.
However, by saying to FFCTV prior to the game, “We played United twice this season and maybe they came out a little lucky,” Brazilian has risked the anger of United’s supporters. These two games taught us a lot, and I have no doubt that the players are more motivated to oppose them.
Pereria added: “It’s a special game, a special place for everyone I think… I’m looking forward to it. For me, it’s going to be a particularly special game. We still have the feeling from the first year I was here, what happened. For sure, we’re going to be prepared for everything.”