Manchester United reached their first final below Erik ten Hag by securing secure passage by way of the Carabao Cup semi finals on the expense of Nottingham Forest.
The Red Devils have loved an excellent run of kind after their notorious defeats to Brighton and Brentford to begin the season. They’re firmly within the Champions League qualification combine and stay alive within the FA Cup and Europa League.
However, their commitments in cup competitions means Ten Hag faces a tricky February as he tries to steadiness the taking part in time of a squad that has not too long ago been struck by accidents to key gamers.
Here’s United’s truncated schedule main up to the Carabao Cup final, including some juicy derbies and European fixtures.
Fresh from sealing their spot within the Carabao Cup final towards Newcastle, United are again into Premier League issues after they host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday 4 February in a 15:00 GMT kick off.
The two sides duked it out earlier just a few weeks in the past of their first assembly of the season as a late Michael Olise free-kick earned Palace a degree after Bruno Fernandes’ strike simply earlier than half time.
Manchester United and Leeds are fierce rivals and the strain between the 2 groups has risen once more following Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League.
The Red Devils have scored 15 objectives within the 4 conferences in that point, solely failing to win as soon as after they had been held to a goalless attract April 2021. The fixture was initially postponed following Queen Elizabeth II’s demise in September and can happen on Wednesday 8 February at 20:00 GMT.
That fixture rearrangement means the 2 Uniteds will face one another twice in 4 days.
In this fixture final season, two headless chickens went at it as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds had been downed 4-2 by Ralf Rangnick’s Man Utd. Goals from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes had the guests 2-0 up earlier than two objectives in two minutes from Rodrigo and Raphinha squared issues up.
Substitutes Fred and Anthony Elanga gave the Red Devils all three factors. However, they might win solely three extra league video games earlier than the tip of the season.
The stakes are actually upped in mid February when Man Utd journey to Barcelona to face the Catalan giants at Camp Nou within the Europa League knockout play-off spherical.
It’s Barça who maintain the sting in latest conferences, having received the previous 4 video games between the 2 sides.
Once they return house from the journey to Catalonia, United have a house sport towards Leicester to cope with.
The Foxes have endured some turbulent kind this season however have largely been a large number on the again, although the edges had been solely separated by Jadon Sancho’s strike they met again in September.
The return leg of the Europa League knockout play-off spherical will decide who between United and Barça proceed within the continent’s secondary membership competitors.
United’s final win over Barça got here at Old Trafford in 2008 when Paul Scholes scored the one purpose of a Champions League semi final tie to ship his facet to final in Moscow.
Two of essentially the most improved sides this season meet within the Carabao Cup final in late February when Newcastle face Man Utd.
Both sides are eyeing up Champions League qualification and every sit within the prime 4 at the moment and this assembly may very well be a chance to land a major psychological blow.