Manchester United will welcome Leeds to Old Trafford to resume club action with a heated game on April 13th.
While Michael Carrick’s side have been plugging away in Ireland, trying to get sharpness back in the absence of a game for 24 days, Leeds’ situation is starkly different.
They are into the semi-finals of the FA Cup after a win against West Ham United to continue their renaissance under Daniel Farke.
However, Man United will have the opportunity to make them take a step closer to their worst fear becoming a reality, regardless of their FA Cup win.
Man Utd can push Leeds back into a relegation fight
Leeds’ FA Cup progression and good recent results in the league have seen the complexion of their season change completely.
From being on the brink of the sack, Farke has revived Leeds and his own fortunes spectacularly.
However, so bad was their start to the season that despite their revival, they are still only four points clear of the relegation places.
Four teams are separated by four points from 15th (Leeds) to West Ham (18th), so a single result here or there can flip the narrative all over again.
The worry for Leeds is that West Ham in 18th play Wolves at home, who are already doomed, while Spurs in 17th are energised by Roberto de Zerbi.
Nottingham Forest are also finding form under Vitor Pereira, so Leeds’ game at Old Trafford couldn’t have come at a worse time.
United can condemn Leeds right back into the relegation fight that Farke’s men have spent the last four months dragging themselves out of.
An FA Cup semi-final berth will hardly be of delight if it comes at the cost of relegation from the Premier League.
MUTV pundit backs United to push Leeds down again
Ben Thornley, speaking on the Inside Carrington podcast, echoed a similar sentiment, warning Leeds that they could yet have a bittersweet season.
He said: “Leeds will always relish coming to Old Trafford, but they will be looking at the FA Cup and thinking it’s a way to elevate their season.
“They need to keep in the corner of their mind that if they lose at Old Trafford, they will be right back in that mix. Everybody’s talking about Spurs, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, but if they don’t get a result against Man Utd, Leeds will be further into it.
“It could be a bittersweet end of the season for them. They could end up getting relegated.”
Not many Man Utd fans will be complaining if United become the architect of Leeds’ late-season relegation collapse, starting at Old Trafford!
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/XGeyLbJ