Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, gives the team instructions as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manager of Leicester City, looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 07, 2025 in Manchester, England.Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, gives the team instructions as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manager of Leicester City, looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 07, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, gives the team instructions as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manager of Leicester City, looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 07, 2025 in Manchester, England. | Getty Images
Manchester United are back in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon in their final game before the international break
Manchester United head to Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday evening as they look to push up the table after a disappointing domestic campaign. The Red Devils’ season is riding on their success in the Europa League, with triumphing in the European competition their only realistic route into the Champions League for next season.
United have met Leicester twice already this season, beating the Foxes 3-0 at Old Trafford in November and knocking them out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win in early February. Sunday’s contest has a lot more riding on it for the Foxes compared to United, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side looking to find their way out of the relegation zone - although they face a big turnaround to secure survival.
United will be keen to bank as much Premier League prize money as possible, however, with every place higher a team finishes worth about an extra £3m.
What has Amorim said ahead of the game?
Leicester have endured a rotten run of form as of late. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the end of January but have since lost their last five Premier League games without scoring a goal. They have lost two of those games 4-0 while their run of defeats is six games in all competitions, when their FA Cup loss at United is factored in.
Despite the Foxes’ poor run, Amorim will not be taking them lightly. He said: "We have to be humble and forget the table and face Leicester like we faced Real Sociedad. We just need to win to improve our position in the table. The most important thing is continuing with this feeling of winning and we are improving as a team."
The United boss also feels there has been improvement from his side in recent weeks. He added: “I feel that in the last games that we understand the idea of what we want to do better. We are better at understanding the plan for the games, we are giving more time for the team to win or draw games -- not conceding a goal and losing our minds and suffering another goal.
"We are understanding the moments of the game and also we are understanding better the way we want to play."
Why does Leicester City v Man Utd kick off at 7pm?
United fans travelling to the King Power Stadium on Sunday will have a late journey back with the Premier League fixture kicking off at 7pm. The Red Devils were selected for Sky Sports coverage but the game cannot be shown in the regular 4.30pm slot due to the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle United being broadcast at that time.
With the Red Devils in Europa League action on Thursday, it meant they were unable to play on Saturday. The earlier kick-off time on Sunday is also taken up by Arsenal v Chelsea, who play at 1.30pm on Sky Sports. It left 7pm Sunday as the only option for United due to their game being up for broadcast selection. Normally sides involved in the Europa League on Thursday will play at 2pm or 4.30pm on Sunday.
It is not the first time United fans have had to travel away for a 7pm kick off on a Sunday. For their 1-0 win over Fulham back in January, the Red Devils had to play at 7pm on a Sunday. This was also partly down to their involvement in the Europa League while it was mostly down to broadcast schedules. United were on TNT Sports who normally shows games at 12.30pm on Saturday but United had just played Rangers that Thursday and could not play on the Saturday, forcing the game to be moved to 7pm on a Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust said earlier this year when the 7pm kick-off time was confirmed: “7pm Sunday kick-offs are a nightmare for match-going fans with a few post-match public transport options combined with the spectre of work in the morning for most. As ever the needs of broadcasters always seem to be put first, with fans in the ground little more than an afterthought.”
In other news, Joshua Zirkzee has given a one-word verdict on Manchester United star who has earned Ruben Amorim trust.