Man U vs. Watford
Venue: Old Trafford
Kick off: 4PM
Manchester United welcome Watford to Old Trafford this afternoon in their first match since announcing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their new permanent manager.
The Norwegian landed the job after an impressive three-month trial spell as caretaker boss, though his side headed into the international break on the back of successive defeats and they need to respond this weekend.
After three months of smiles around Old Trafford, the bubble well and truly burst with those defeats to Arsenal (Premier League) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (FA Cup) in the week leading up to the international break.
Solskjaer saw his side lose back-to-back games for the first time, but that was not enough to put off the club hierarchy awarding him a three-year deal to become their fourth permanent boss since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will be hoping that it is fourth time lucky, and on the basis of United’s overall form since mid-December the future certainly looks a lot brighter than it has done at any point over the last six years.
United have entertained their supporters and, more importantly in the view of Woodward, they have taken 32 points from the last 39 on offer since Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho, while also overcoming the odds to knock Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League en route to the last eight.
With momentum on their side, though, United suffered a slightly harsh 2-0 loss to Arsenal in their most recent league game on March 10, leaving them fifth in the table and two points adrift of their opponents.
That was far from a fatal blow in terms of the Red Devils’ top-four hopes, but the 2-1 reverse at the hands of Wolves two weeks ago was a lot more damaging, as the FA Cup was seen as Solskjaer’s best chance of adding some silverware to the trophy cabinet.
Solskjaer did not hold back after the quarter-final loss, admitting that his side took “a big step backwards” with their performance. If anything, though, it went a long way to showing that plenty of work still needs to be done in the summer to turn United into title challengers.
Before the transfer window opens, United still have plenty to play for. As well as preparing for a Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, Solskjaer will also be targeting a run of victories in the Premier League to overhaul Arsenal – or Tottenham Hotspur – and finish in the top four.
If the second half of 2018-19 was considered a free hit for United’s Norwegian gaffer, next season will be nothing of the sort. By returning to winning ways at Old Trafford on Saturday and rebuilding some momentum, Solskjaer can usher in a new era and send out a message that English football’s most successful club are back in the mix for major honours.
Man U possible XI: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Martial, Rashford.
Watford possible XI: Foster, Janmaat, Mariappa, Cathcart, Masina, Hughes, Capoue, Doucoure, Pereyra, Deeney, Deulofeu.