 | |
| United visit Molineux for the first time since 2012 |
Off the back of a first domestic defeat under the Norwegian, the Reds face Nuno Espirito Santo's marvellous men from Molineux with a place at Wembley in the last four at stake. It is one of two all Premier League quarter finals at this stage
Top seven of the Premier League, last eight of the FA Cup - it's not the sort of season that sides coming up into the top flight generally experience.
In-form Wolves, though, aren't your normal newly-promoted club, and those on the inside are presumably merely enjoying 'progress as planned'.
Nuno Espirito Santo will have a plan to beat Manchester United too, having been unlucky not to get the better of his old boss Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in September - the Reds know all about the nasty bite this Wolves team can possess.
From Mourinho to the surprise of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United's season has been anything but 'as planned' and yet could end incredibly well. The spectre of Pep Guardiola's quadruple-chasing City aisde, this is the trickiest tie we could have got - away to a top six league team for the third consecutive round. Santo's side have impressively staked a claim to be regarded as the best promoted club the Premier League has ever seen.
They began their cup run with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the third round, before being taken to a replay by League One strugglers Shrewsbury in round four, which they eventually won 3-2 at Molineux. A single goal from Ivan Cavaleiro in the fifth round saw them beat Bristol City 1-0 to make it through to the quarter-finals.
One for all to enjoy, Jose included, then.
Solskjaer said: "Last season you were impressed with them to go through the Championship as they did convincingly.
"They had a clear plan - didn't get Championship players in, [but] players above the Championship level - and you can see that now, in seventh, they trust their own way of playing.
"They defended fantastically well against Chelsea but at home they take the game to the opponent with the great passing ability in the team."
Wolves centre-back Ryan Bennett
is available, despite currently serving a two-match Premier League ban,
and could replace Romain Saiss.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has no fresh injury concerns.United's in-form forward Romelu Lukaku is a doubt because of a sore foot.
Ashley Young is suspended but Phil Jones is fit after illness, while Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera have returned to training and could be involved. Diogo Dalot is likely to come in for the suspended Young and Anthony Martial is also in line to feature.
Form guide: Wolves D W D L W D Man Utd W D W W W L
Match odds: Wolves 9/4 Draw 11/5 Man Utd 5/4 (Bet365)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
No comments:
Post a Comment