Erik ten Hag’s maiden season in charge of Manchester United went a long way in re-establishing the fallen giants among the Premier League elite.
Not only did the Dutch manager steer the Red Devils back into the Champions League group stages, but, more importantly, ended the club’s frustrating six-year title drought.
Casemiro and Marcus Rashford were on the scoresheet as Man Utd put Newcastle United to the sword in last season’s League Cup final, running out 2-0 victors.
However, United’s defending campaign came crashing down in the fourth round at the hands of none other than Newcastle, while their continental journey ended in the Champions League group phase.
With the Premier League title pack already out of reach, lifting the FA Cup crown remains the Red Devils’ only chance of avoiding another trophyless season.
It’s been eight years since Man Utd last won the oldest cup competition in football. Led by Louis van Gaal, the Old Trafford powerhouse eked out a 2-1 extra-time win against Crystal Palace in the 2015/16 grand final.
That was United’s 12th FA Cup title, with only Arsenal’s 14 beating their impressive tally. Let’s see if Ten Hag’s side can whittle down the gap this season.
Routine Start
If you look at the English FA Cup odds to win on Wincomparator, you’ll see Man Utd tied with Newcastle as third-favourites to claim the prize behind reigning holders Manchester City and EPL leaders Liverpool.
But the campaign is still young.
United commenced their FA Cup adventure with a landslide 2-0 win against League One outfit Wigan Athletic before a goal-glutted 4-2 rout of fourth-tier Newport County.
Next in line is a tricky fifth-round tie against fellow Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, with Ten Hag’s team seeking revenge for a 2-1 league loss on New Year’s Eve.
Signs of improvement
A lot has changed at Old Trafford since that debacle at the City Ground.
United’s form resurgence in 2024 has seen them win five of their six matches across all competitions (D1), including the last four in a row.
Scott McTominay’s powering header propelled Man Utd to a potentially season-defining 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday, reigniting the club’s pursuit of a second straight top-four finish in the Premier League.
“With Scott, you have a player who can score a goal,” Ten Hag told ManUtd.com in the aftermath as his men seem to be picking up a head of steam after a nightmarish first half of the season.
Indeed, goals were at a premium for the Red Devils toward the end of 2023, but the narrative has changed since the calendar year flipped to 2024.
Since the abovementioned defeat to Forest, the 12-time FA Cup winners have netted 2+ goals in six consecutive domestic games, reinforcing Ten Hag’s lofty ambitions.
Favourable schedule
Following a 2-1 heartache in last season’s FA Cup title decider against Man City, reaching another grand final is the bare minimum fans expect from Man Utd after collapsing in other competitions.
Despite tumbling down at the City Ground over a month ago, Ten Hag’s men will enter the fifth-round tie as betting favourites to progress beyond this stage for the ninth time in ten years.
They’ll have to do it without Lisandro Martinez, who renewed his knee injury against West Ham United, though the Dutch manager told the Daily Mail the Argentine will play again this season.
But United should take the City Ground pitch in high spirits should their upcoming Premier League assignments go to plan.
Next weekend’s trip to Kenilworth Road to face relegation-threatened Luton Town is a presentable opportunity for the Red Devils to build momentum.
The same goes for Fulham’s visit to Old Trafford in the follow-up, especially considering United defeated both rivals in reverse fixtures by the same 1-0 scoreline.
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