Manchester United has passed a historically poor campaign in the Premier League, in which Ruben Amorim does not inspire anything that looks like a new manager bouncer.
They are on course for their lowest competition finish, because they were last relegated in 1973-74, despite the fact that they deeply dig with 10 men to beat Ipswich 3-2 in the midweek.
But United has recent history of popping up in the FA Cup, after he had lifted the trophy under Erik ten Hag while they recorded their worst Premier League finish last season.
On Sunday they organize Fulham in the same competition, where the Marco Silva team stimulated their European hope by winning 2-1 at Wolves on Tuesday.
Former United -midfielder Andreas Pereira is determined to keep fighting on two fronts and tell Fulham TV: “It is important for us to stay in the cup and push high in the competition. For me it will be a particularly special competition.”
The International Brazil has also not forgotten what happened when these teams were last confronted in the FA Cup, with United Triumphing 3-1 in the quarterfinals of 2022-23.
“We still have that feeling from the first year I was here, with what happened, and we will certainly be prepared for everything,” he said, thoughtful about that game.
“It is a special game, a special place for everyone. Twice this year we lost against them, and we want to win this game.”
Come on Fulham! #Munful pic.twitter.com/6zlajqkuqo
– Fulham Football Club (@Fulhamfc) 27 February 2025
What is expected?
United are the favorites of the OPTA Supercomputer to make progress, with the Red Devils who have assigned a chance of 45.3% of the victory within 90 minutes.
That means that Fulham gets a chance of 54.7% to win or take the draw to extra time and possibly fines. They get a chance of 27.8% on the victory, with the chance of a draw of 26.9%.
United has advanced from their last nine FA Cup tires against Fulham since he ran a 2-1 quarter-final defeat in 1908.
This is the fourth time that Fulham is confronted with the holders of the FA Cup in the competition, which are eliminated for each of the previous three times (4-5 versus Newcastle United in 1955-56, 1-2 against West Brom in 1968-69 and 0-4 versus Manchester City in 2019-20).
United, meanwhile, has been advanced from each of their last 14 FA Cup fifth round tires since losing 1-0 to Liverpool in 2005-06.
The Red Devils have indeed reached the quarterfinals of the competition in nine of the last 10 campaigns. Fulham wants to make the last eight for the second time in three years, after he defeated Leeds United 2-0 at this stage in 2022-23.
Red Devils to fit?
After Patrick Dorgu's horror loss on Omari Hutchinson, United played more than half of Wednesday with Ipswich with a numerical disadvantage, but the header of Harry Maguire asked in the second half, Amorim's men gave something to defend.
After he had seen his team grinding a valuable victory, Amorim was asked if his players were more comfortable to defend deeply than when taking the initiative.
The former sporty CP boss said: “I think that is clear, it's hard for me. Sometimes it's like fighting.
“It is really difficult for me to play as we played in the second half, but I feel that the players are more comfortable and sometimes defend in the low block.”
The statistics bear that somewhat. United has received more than 50% possession in 11 domestic matches under Amorim, but only three of those competitions won while they lose two signs and six, giving them a profit percentage of 27.3%.
In the eight of such games where United has had less than 50%, they have included three victories, two draws and three defeats for a marginal better profit percentage of 37.5%. One of those draws resulted in a penalty shoot-out triumph over Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.
Although United will probably not deliberately give possession, in particular in a knock -out draw for home, the granting of Fulham space to combat via Adama Traore and Antonee Robinson would be unwise.
But if the Red Devils have to prevent them from having to chase the game, they just have to cut away the slow start. Since Amorim's first match on November 24, they have admitted the first goal in more Premier League matches than any other side (12).
With attack, Amorim wants more from Rasmus Hojlund, who only had 12 touches before he was replaced against Ipswich – less than half of the quantity registered by another starter of both teams.
Hojlund has gone 17 games without a goal since he was put against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League in the Europa League in December, but De Dane has even recited its underlying figures this campaign, and seven times with the chances of a total of 6.1 expected goals (XG). With Amorim's Options Limited he will probably keep his place.
Silva aims for revenge
When United and Fulham last met in the FA Cup, the men of Silva led 1-0 with 15 minutes to play and were on course to reach the semi-final for the second time in their history.
Willian's handball to admit a fine, however, caused a complete capitulation, which started with the Brazilian sent. Silva's touchline protests ensured that he also saw Red, after which Aleksandr Mitrovic pushed the arm of Chris Kavanagh and quickly joined them.
When the order was restored, Bruno Fernandes shot at home from the place, with United with 3-1.
Demoralizing defeats against United are nothing new for Fulham, who only won one of their last 21 meetings with United in all competitions (three draws, 17 defeats).
They have already beat the Red Devils twice this season with 1-0, during the Opening Prime Minister League match day at Old Trafford, and then a month ago in Craven Cottage.
But Fulham will approach this game in a good mood, with their victory at Wolves, making it five victories in their last six road races in all games, including the last four in a row.
Silva showed his tactical flexibility in Molineux, while regular starters Robinson, Raul Jimenez, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were rotated with one eye on Sunday's luminaire.
Fulham defended a 2-1 lead in the second half and enjoyed only 33% of the possession after the fall of a compact 5-3-2, but they still won the expected goals (XG) battle with 0.95 to 0.49, so that many more of their 20 final inputs were wolves of their 48.
With Fulham who finds new ways to win games and their most important players have been renewed prior to the biggest match of their season, Silva will feel good about their chances.
Players to watch
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
The importance of Fernandes for United cannot be underestimated, and Amorim will probably not even want to consider where his team could be without his countryman.
The playmaker was involved in 11 goals in his last 11 performances in the FA Cup, scored seven and assists four.
He just did not succeed in registering a goal or an assist in two of these 11 games, and the midfielder of Portugal scored twice when United Fulham's Harten broke in this competition in 2022-23.
Fulham – Antonee Robinson
Robinson's 10 Premier League assists this season are at least four more than any other defender, with Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool who records six.
Among all defenders in the top flight, the American is also in second place for open-game opportunities (35), third for successful crosses (36) and third for progressive wears 10 yards or more (112).
Robinson is a strong candidate to make the team of the Premier League season and has attracted interest from various top clubs, so United must be wary of the threat he offers on the left flank.
Comments