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Manchester United travel to Chelsea FC on Sunday in a clash of two English giants battling for two of the coveted top four positions in the Premier League. The two sides are also famous for going head to head in the transfer market over the same targets.
With this huge crunch clash coming up, and a few fitness concerns for the Red Devils, let’s take a look at how United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might shape his first team in this one.
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Chelsea FC host Manchester United in one of the biggest matches of the Premier League weekend. Thomas Tuchel has the Blues moving up the table, getting results through solid defensive play and keeping the opponents off the score sheet.
Yes, there are a few players in his side that are likely angry about not getting more playing time, and justifiably so. However, you can’t argue with results and Tuchel is getting them, so it is unlikely he’ll switch up his lineup at this time.
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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said it best about Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester United: “If we win, it will be huge for us and if they win it is huge for them.”
While Manchester City hosting West Ham (first versus fourth) is a slightly bigger game in terms of the standings, this is the headliner match-up, from a brand name standpoint. While both United and Chelsea are out of the title race, there are both part of a really fierce battle to secure a position in the top four.
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Common Goal, the social movement founded by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, has announced more American allies today. Common Goal was founded with the purpose of uniting the global football community against the greatest social challenge of our time- systemic racism.
Given the rash of racist incidents in world football/soccer lately, there has been an even bigger push to try and stamp out hate in the beautiful game. Chicago Fire FC today announced that it is aligning with Common Goal to help launch the Anti-Racist Project (ARP), a program to combat systemic racism in football and society.
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When Manchester United host Real Sociedad on Thursday night, they’ll do so in a just-going-through-the-motions kind of contest as this Europa League round of 32 tie is already won.
Up for 4-0 on aggregate from the first leg, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can easily afford to play an experimental side, if he wants to. At the very least, you’re going to see lot of end of the bench guys get in, and those who are borderline when it comes to fitness will almost be certainly be rested.
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Manchester United are, for all intents and purposes, already through to the UEFA Europa League round of 16, so Thursday night’s clash is just a mere formality.
United will welcome Real Sociedad to Old Trafford in midweek, having already thrashed them 4-0 last week and thus ended their hex against Spanish opposition. Now the Red Devils will look to get a home win over a team from Spain for the first time since 2013-14, when it was also Sociedad; in that season’s UEFA Champions League competition.
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Due to COVID-19 protocols, some unnamed members of the Manchester United coaching staff have had to quarantine. Despite this unfortunate development, United’s Premier League clash at home against Newcastle tonight will go on as planned.
A club statement reads: “Nicky Butt and Mark Dempsey will join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the bench this evening due to some of the coaching staff having to self isolate.”
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“It’s too late baby now, it’s too late, though we really did try and make it,” the legendary Carole King once famously sang. The lyrics to the chorus of this timeless hit perfectly describe Manchester United’s 20/21 Premier League title chances.
United’s dropping points against Everton with the final kick put their title prospects in a precarious position. Failing to take all three against bottom-feeding West Brom, plus the invincible form we’re seeing from Manchester City right now, and well, now it’s time to regroup, and focus on finishing in the top four.
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After going top of the table for a couple of weeks, in January, Manchester United have hit a major slide. Settling for draws instead of wins, mostly against vastly inferior competition, their title chances have almost certainly faded now.
Sunday sees the Red Devils take on another lower table side, this time Newcastle United, at home. The denizens of Old Trafford need to take all three points here, or their could see their top four chances fall into danger as well. Let’s peruse the team news for this one.
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For Manchester United, the journey to a second Europa League title in four years begins with a neutral site round of 32 tie against Real Sociedad. This was supposed to be the road leg of the tie, but it had to be moved to Juventus’ home, Allianz Arena, due to precautions and travel restrictions related to covid-19 situation.
Several key players will be out for this one, as they are either injured, and/or slated to take a rest. So let’s look at who could be selected by manager Ole Gunnar Solskajer for the first team in this one.
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Manchester United commence their UEFA Europa League campaign tomorrow night having been ousted already from the Champions League this season.
The journey begins with a round of 32 tie versus Real Sociedad that had to be moved to Juventus’ home, Allianz Arena, due to covid-19 safety protocols. When United take to the pitch tomorrow night, they will be without the services of several key players, so let’s do the run down on them all.
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As far as footballers go, Wayne Rooney is right at the top of the list of players who are all time English greats. Not only is he the most decorated goal scorer in England’s international history, but he has over 100 caps to his name. Combine this with his club form – Rooney has won everything from Premier League titles to Champions Leagues and World Club Championships – and you can understand why Derby fans were excited about his appointment.
But many former-players-turned-managers have not succeeded. The question is, will the Manchester United man be a hit? The current evidence seems to suggest so.
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