MANCHESTER UNITED are sorely at risk of burning out after their success in cup competitions handed them a nightmare few weeks ahead.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side face the prospect of playing 13 games between now and March 21 as their FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League progress takes its toll.
Man Utd face a horror fixture pile-up in the coming weeks
The fixtures come thick and fast after February’s winter break, with up to 11 in just 34 days.
With so many cup games to worry about, United’s Premier League form could take another dramatic dip.
The Red Devils have only broken into the top four TWICE since Sir Alex Ferguson retired – last year finishing sixth.
And it’s already looking like they will go another season without earning Champions League football via the traditional domestic route.
Man Utd sit 33 points adrift of league leaders and arch-rivals Liverpool – and six behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Worryingly for Solskjaer, the injury-ravished club risk even more problems as their February and March are absolutely chock full of important matches.
Their monster run starts on Wednesday when they take on Manchester City in the second-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Trailing 3-1 from the first-leg – played at Old Trafford – United look set to crash out of the League Cup, which could be a blessing.
After that – despite their being a two-week break for Premier League sides – United must play 11 times in just five weeks, following the February 2 clash with Wolves.
In that run, United must place Club Brugge twice in the Europa League last-32, as well as the FA Cup fifth-round clash with either Derby or Northampton.
Premier League games with Chelsea, Watford, Everton, Man City, Tottenham and Sheffield United are all forthcoming, too.
Then there’s the two Europa League last-16 games games should they battle past Club Brugge.
March 21 should see an end to the horror run, but even then – maybe not.
After all, that weekend is scheduled to host the FA Cup quarter-finals – with Man Utd favourites to reach that weekend.
That could force the game with Sheff Utd to be moved to the following midweek, possibly on March 25.
Then of course, there’s always the outside chance they overturn their first-leg Carabao Cup semi deficit against City.
Should that happen, they would play in the final on March 1, pushing their league match with Everton to… well, that’s anyone’s guess.
FA Cup 5th round draw: Man United face Southampton/Spurs while Chelsea at home to Shrewsbury/Liverpool
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
