United Will Want To Win In Russia To Minimize Pressure Over The Rest Of The Season

United Will Want To Win In Russia To Minimize Pressure Over The Rest Of The Season

Having come out of one exceedingly busy period in their season with the EFL Cup nearly two weeks ago, Manchester United must now go head on into another packed fortnight of football in exactly the same manner in which they took on the last.

The United staff and players have made the 1,872 mile trip to face FC Rostov in the Europa League round of 16 as their season looks to grow ever longer. Should the Red Devils progress to the finals of both the FA Cup and Europa League, having already featured in the League Cup final, they will have played a total of 66 games, 28 more than a standard Premier League season.

With that in mind, as well as the small matter of an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge fast approaching, it is imperative that Jose Mourinho’s side go out and put their mark on the first leg in Russia on Thursday night.


Whilst star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for the next three domestic games he will, bar any incidents of Thursday night, be available for both European legs, which can go a long way to keeping Mourinho’s options fresh up top.

However, with the Chelsea tie, as well as Premier League clashes against West Brom and Middlesbrough, added to the mix, especially after having only drawn against ten man Bournemouth at the weekend, it is imperative United make the second leg of this continental tie as comfortable as possible.

If, as they did in the last round, Zlatan & Co. can take a commanding lead into the return leg at Old Trafford, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager, who will be desperate to lift the Europa League as a fall back to Champions League qualification via the Premier League, can breathe easy and rest some key talent for the domestic games.

However, should United need to chase the game in just over a week’s time in Manchester, there could be more than a couple of complications for the Portuguese.

Having already bagged the League Cup, a treble remains a realistic possibility for the Red Devils in their new managers maiden season in charge but that possibility could be thrown into doubt should they cause themselves any unnecessary trouble or effort with a poor performance in Russia.

However, should the United players, as they really should, get the job done in the first leg, whilst ties against Chelsea and Premier League meetings with the Baggies and Boro will be far from a walk in the park, a significant level of pressure will have been lifted.