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Manchester United welcome Sheffield United to Old Trafford on Wednesday in a game they will be expected to win and get back to winning ways in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure to save his position at the club after four league games without victory which has meant the club has no hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Despite reaching the FA Cup final at the weekend, another alarming meltdown to allow Coventry to score thrice and force the game into a penalty shootout has done little to brighten the mood in Manchester.
However, Wednesday’s game should give United a chance to flex their muscles with the visitors a certainty for relegation, sitting bottom of the league and on course to concede over 100 goals.
Chris Wilder’s men have shipped 88 goals so far with six games remaining and United, however depleted, should have enough for a comfortable night under the lights at the Theatre of Dreams.
Ten Hag is sweating on the fitness of some key players once more but Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garancho and Antony are likely to start up front and have enough quality to put the game to bed.
There should be little need for overly creative tactics in front of home support, getting the ball to the front three in dangerous areas should produce chances aplenty.
Hojlund will be desperate to get back on the scoresheet after another barren run since returning from injury and his desire will be key to United winning the game.
The young Dane has suffered an up-and-down first season in Manchester but with Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes likely to start behind him, the quality to pick Sheffield’s lock is there.
Fernandes and Eriksen both possess outstanding quality on the ball and with the basement side likely to sit deep, the duo will be tasked with getting the ball into dangerous areas for Hojlund.
Hojlund is dangerous in the air, a skill that has been criminally underused this season and clipped balls into his space will allow him to use his physical presence and grab a goal or two.
Equally, United’s most consistent attacker this season, Garnacho, is always eager to impress and will provide a threat on the left hand side with his pace and direct running.
The patched up back four will be expected to cope a lot better than they did at Wembley as United inexplicably nearly threw away a cup final ticket, with tonight’s opponents arguably less armed than Coventry were on Sunday.
Should United concentrate and apply themselves properly, they should be in for a comfortable enough evening but, as seen multiple times this campaign, that seems to be a lot easier said than done for this group of players.
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