5 things Manchester United need to do to win the Carabao Cup
- Manchester United face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday
- Will the Red Devils lift the trophy at Wembley?
- 5 things Man United need to do to win the Carabao Cup
Manchester United face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
The match is being touted as the most highly-anticipated Carabao Cup game in years because these two teams are on the up after several low years.
We take a look at five things Manchester United need to do to win the Carabao Cup.
1. Play the best XI
This seems like an obvious thing to say, but it isn’t as simple as that for Manchester United. Man United are the only European club active in four competitions. They are 250/1 to complete a quadruple of titles.
United’s congested fixture list makes it difficult to pick a starting XI game after game, but Erik ten Hag must save his best players for this game.
The Red Devils haven’t won silverware in over five years – they need to win something to crystallize the progress made under Ten Hag.
2. Match Newcastle physically
Eddie Howe has made Newcastle one of the most physical sides in the league since taking over as manager under new ownership.
Their forwards and midfielders don’t just press high and cover ground quickly – they’re also great at recovering the ball cleanly because of their physique.
United have played a midfield of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Christian Eriksen for most of the season.
Eriksen, of course, is injured, but playing him and Fernandes in the same midfield wouldn’t have been ideal for this sort of game.
For this reason, Ten Hag has used Wout Weghorst in midfield in recent games, and it’s best if he sticks with him.
3. Get Marcus Rashford to run beyond Sven Botman
Marcus Rashford is the most in-form player in European football - he has scored 16 goals since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and his most significant strength is his speed, which Newcastle United’s Sven Botman lacks.
Botman has been excellent since joining the Magpies and will have to rely on his timing, but it won’t be easy without Nick Pope in goal to sweep things up.
4. Exploit Newcastle's goalkeeping woes
Newcastle United will be without their starting goalkeeper Nick Pope. Martin Dubravka will be ineligible to play this match because he represented Manchester United in the Carabao Cup when he was on loan earlier in the season.
Karl Darlow is currently on loan at Hull City, which leaves them with fourth-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius.
Karius is mostly remembered for his struggles at Liverpool, and United has to take advantage of this by testing him from the get-go.
5. Use the subs wisely
Manchester United don’t have a complete XI yet, but they have a lot of players who can make an impact off the bench.
Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho have been great off the bench in recent weeks but haven’t had the same impact as starters.
It’s best to save them for the bench and rely on Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford to carry the attacking threat at the start.
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