An even bigger testing period awaits Man United and other Wolves talking points

Matt Jones - Editor 18:14 15/03/2019
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Wolves welcome Manchester United to the Midlands in an FA Cup quarter-final tie that should be a cracking encounter on Saturday.

    United will see a path to Wembley should the hosts be silenced, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surely seeing the famous competition as the most likely shot to earn silverware for a side he has transformed during three months in charge.

    Wolves though are no pushovers, having drawn at Old Trafford in the league already this season. Ahead of the tie of the round, let’s consider the talking points:

    CAN UNITED AND OLE HANDLE THE PRESSURE?

    Solskjaer tasted defeat for just a second time last week against Arsenal.

    Solskjaer tasted defeat for just a second time last week against Arsenal.

    Just a month ago, United fans and critics alike were waiting with baited breath to see how Solskjaer would cope with his first proper test – an arduous quartet of fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain (twice), Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in the span of seven games.

    With wins at Chelsea and PSG, keeping a clean sheet at home in a 0-0 draw with title-chasing Liverpool and defeats to the Gunners and the Parisians – albeit an ultimately irrelevant one as they progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals nevertheless – you’d have to give the United boss an A- grade for his efforts, and those of his team.

    But there’s no rest with another tough examination awaiting United in the next six weeks. In fact, the ensuing set of games may be even harder and require far more study in order for United to be successful.

    Wolves, Watford, Wolves, Barcelona, West Ham and Barcelona are United’s next six fixtures – Nuno Espirito Santo’s side await in the FA Cup on Saturday and the league in two weeks’ time (both at Molineux). The Hornets are just a place behind Wolves in the Premier League in eighth, even though they should be swatted aside at Old Trafford.

    United and Solskjaer will not need telling the two-legged tie against Barca is a mountainous task. And whatever the outcome there, there’s then the small matter of a trip to Everton and a home double against Manchester City and Chelsea in eight days before the end of April.

    Ole’s at the wheel and has steered United through the gauntlet already. Another monumental test now approaches and it is an obstacle that could well break that wheel.

    WOLVES SMELL BLOOD

    Nuno Espirito Santo has led Wolves to seventh in the Premier League.

    Nuno Espirito Santo has led Wolves to seventh in the Premier League.

    Wolves are on their best run of the season having lost just once in their last 11 games in all competitions. The only defeat in that sequence was a curious 1-0 loss at the hands of Premier League cellar dwellers Huddersfield, while they come into this mouthwatering FA Cup quarter-final buoyed by almost pulling off possibly the result of their season at Stamford Bridge last week.

    Santo deployed an ultra-defensive approach in west London and was almost rewarded – only Eden Hazard breaking their resistance with a stoppage time stunner.

    Wolves were excellent when these two teams met earlier this season, deservedly earning a point through Joao Moutinho’s superb strike.

    United had taken the lead through Fred but Jose Mourinho’s side were lucky to take anything at all from the game, having been second best for much of the afternoon.

    They bossed possession against the visitors but Santo’s side dominated in terms of efforts on goal, raining down eight shots on David De Gea. Fred’s goal was one of just three United shots on target.

    Mourinho has since departed and United are on a roll, having just overcome PSG to reach the Champions League last eight. But Solskjaer will expect a scrap with Wolves in order to progress.

    Striker Raul Jimenez has found the net three times in his last four games and has seven in his last 10, lying sixth in the Premier League scoring charts. Moutinho is fifth in assists (seven), while only City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea have a better defensive record than the men from Molineux.

    SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

    Rashford is in need of a rest and Lukaku is a doubt.

    Rashford is in need of a rest and Lukaku is a doubt.

    In the midst of the testing run that has just been passed with flying colours, it is glossed over just how impressive United were in obtaining victories at Crystal palace and at Old Trafford against Southampton.

    Obviously the glamour fixtures are what fans looked forward too and United performed largely brilliantly in them. But with injuries mounting in the wake of the PSG defeat at Old Trafford, to go to Selhurst Park and churn out a pretty dominant 3-1 victory and then fend off a stirring fightback from Saints to win 3-2 was admirable.

    The hero of recent weeks has, without doubt, been Romelu Lukaku, and whereas he should feature in the Midlands tomorrow, there is a doubt over his fitness.

    Should a foot issue keep him out, Solskjaer will be concerned. Not only because the Belgian has been in stunning form but because bundle of energy and tricks, Marcus Rashford, is in need of a rest as he has run himself into the ground in recent displays.

    Mason Greenwood, meanwhile, is unlikely to feature as he didn’t fly out with Nicky Butt’s United Under-19 squad to Denmark on Friday for the UEFA Youth League tie against FC Midtjylland due to illness.

    Of course the good news for the Norwegian interim boss is that a host of players have returned. Nemanja Matic featured in defeat to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium last weekend, while Anthony Martial also featured off the bench.

    Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard have all been taking part in training this week too, so will all be in contention.

    In the face of a daunting trip, expect United and their players to step up once more.

    Recommended