Manchester United v West Ham: Will the Red Devils have FA Cup problems?

Athletistic/ Football. On March 1, there will be two FA Cup matches. Manchester United will host West Ham at Old Trafford. In another match, Sheffield United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United–West Ham

In previous seasons, Manchester United competed directly or indirectly with West Ham for a place in the Champions League zone. However, the “Hammers” did not find themselves in the elite European tournament, and this season they are forced to fight for survival in the Premier League. The hosts of the upcoming game, on the contrary, now have the peak of achievements in the past five years. After Ronaldo was sacked, Eric ten Hag’s side seemed to have been replaced, the team rallied and started delivering results on all fronts. Last Sunday, the Red Devils became owners of the first domestic trophy this season, in the final of the English League Cup by overcoming the resistance of Newcastle with confidence. Considering the title encounter took place three days after Manchester United’s victory over Barcelona in the Europa League, Eric ten Hag’s wards are psychologically ready to deliver results in every way. Nothing good before this meeting, the London guests did not bode well for the bookmakers, who offered a coefficient of 1.65 for the victory of the Mancunians. Manchester United after the resumption of the season is one of the best clubs not only in England but also in Europe. As well as winning the English League Cup title and reaching the FA Cup Round of 16, the Red Devils have climbed into the top three teams in the Premier League over the past two months, and also ‘gnawed away’ a ticket to Barcelona’s Europa League Round of 16 tie. In nineteen matches since the World Cup, Manchester United have won fifteen times, and only lost to Arsenal, after conceding a decisive goal from the Premier League leaders in the 90th minute of the match. West Ham are two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. Considering that there is Everton, which has not been relegated from the English top flight since the 50s of the last century, the Hammers must think about the situation in the championship and not lose strength at Old Trafford three days before leaving for Brighton. Moreover, in away games, West Ham, along with Nottingham Forest and Leeds, are the worst clubs in the Premier League. Away, the Hammers have scored 6 of a possible 36 points this season. Most likely, Manchester United will not give the capital team any chance.

Sheffield United–Tottenham

A rather interesting confrontation in the 1/8 finals of the FA Cup will take place in Sheffield. The local Blades ended an unsuccessful Championship mini-series on Saturday, which cemented their position in the class’ direct promotion zone. Purely psychologically, nothing prevents the local team from preparing for the Premier League club’s Cup appearance in a good mood and fighting spirit. Tottenham on the situation in the national championship, too, can not complain. On Sunday, their arena ‘spurs’ ‘slammed’ the helpless Chelsea star, cementing their position in the Champions League area. Sheffield United reached the current round of the cup competition by beating Millwall and Wrexham. Moreover, the “blades” tortured the second in the replay, after having entertained England with a sensational draw in the first meeting. Tottenham’s course has developed more serenely. In the 1/32 final, Spurs beat Portsmouth 1-0 at home, and in the 1/16 final they won Preston in a landslide 3-0 victory. The bookmakers offered the London club as the favorite for the upcoming meeting, the victory of which can be put with a coefficient of 1.78. Sheffield United are in a solid second position in the Championship. In mid-February, the Blades lost two games in a row, their closest pursuer winning at the same time, sharpening the intrigue. However, last Saturday Hackingbottom wards evened things up by beating Watford at home. For the whole of the current season, Sheffield United have lost just three matches in their arena, losing just one by more than a goal. Tottenham, in turn, lost both away games in February, but won all home games. Spurs are fourth in the Championship with a four-point lead over Newcastle, but they can’t feel calm as the Magpies are two games short. Of course, Tottenham will be set for a positive result at Sheffield, but over the next seven days Conte’s side will have to play two more important fixtures: against Wolverhampton on the road and at home to Milan. The Italian coach on Wednesday is unlikely to be able to avoid the rotation of the squad. Most likely, the hosts will take advantage of their home court factor and the opponent’s focus on bigger tournaments.