After being dumped out of the FA Cup by Fulham, Manchester United are left competing on two fronts.
The Red Devils’ season has been a disaster. Although they won’t be relegated, they’re set to finish the lowest in their history in the Premier League.
European salvation is still possible though… Qualification into next season’s Champions League via the league is out of reach, but Manchester United can still make the cut by winning the Europa League.
And judging by how mid-week performances have impacted domestic form, fans can probably expect the rollercoaster to continue.
READ: Unai Emery hails ‘fantastic’ Marcus Rashford moment for Aston Villa in the Champions League
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Man United have dealt with busy schedule well
Manchester United will host Real Sociedad on Thursday night for a Last 16 second leg tie. The fixture’s first leg scoreline is 1-1 thanks to a 57th minute goal from Joshua Zirkzee.
Pressure is on the Red Devils to perform against the Spaniards. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is pinning everything on the side taking a step closer to May’s final at the Estadio de San Mames Stadium.
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Although United remain unbeaten in Europe this season, their journey to this point has been far from plain sailing — something the side would’ve been expecting after Ruben Amorim claimed the Europa League is harder to win than the Champions League.
At the time of writing, Manchester United have played nine European fixtures; eight in the league phase. They’ve won five and drawn four.
Date Competition Fixture Result
25.09.24 Europa League Man Utd vs FC Twente 1-1
29.09.24 Premier League Man Utd vs Spurs 0-3
03.10.24 Europa League Porto vs Man Utd 3-3
06.10.24 Premier League Aston Villa vs Man Utd 0-0
24.10.24 Europa League Fenerbahce vs Man Utd 1-1
27.10.24 Premier League West Ham vs Man Utd 2-1
07.11.24 Europa League Man Utd vs PAKO 2-0
10.11.24 Premier League Man Utd vs Leicester 3-0
28.11.24 Europa League Man Utd vs Bodo/Glimt 3-2
01.12.24 Premier League Man Utd vs Everton 4-0
12.12.24 Europa League Viktoria Plzen vs Man Utd 1-2
15.12.24 Premier League Man City vs Man Utd 1-2
23.01.25 Europa League Man Utd vs Rangers 2-1
26.01.25 Premier League Fulham vs Man Utd 0-1
30.01.25 Europa League FCSB vs Man Utd 0-2
02.02.25 Premier League Man Utd vs Crystal Palace 0-2
06.03.25 Europa League Real Sociedad vs Man Utd 1-1
Interestingly, every time United have failed to win in Europe, Amorim has also been unable to take three points from the side’s next Premier League match.
Similarly, except for their 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in February, United have followed their European victories up with a win in their next Premier League game, meaning they have an 80% back-to-back win rate when playing mid-week.
Real Sociedad result could be bad news for Leicester City
Even though there is a lot more to football than stats and data patterns, it is clear Manchester United have kept their momentum whenever they’ve won mid-week.
The Red Devils are expected to beat Real Sociedad on Thursday, and if they do win at Old Trafford, Leicester City, who United play on Saturday, could be Amorim’s next victim.
The Foxes were thumped 3-0 by Manchester United in the Premier League’s reverse fixture. That match was before Amorim had taken charge though…
Ruud van Nistelrooy was in the Old Trafford dugout on an interim basis. The Dutchman, now in a permanent role, is in charge of Leicester City and is preparing to travel back to his old stomping ground in the hope of pulling off an upset.