Manchester United host Newcastle United in Carabao Cup

Suddenly a huge game for the hosts.

Transcript

00:00 Midweek, they host Newcastle in the League Cup, the repeat of the final last year. This

00:08 now maybe becomes a big game for them. They're at home, they've won this trophy last season,

00:14 they're going to want to do it again, a lot of the fans. Because they're thinking if it

00:18 is the only trophy we win, at least we win a trophy. But it's now become a huge game

00:23 because we are debating this, whether Tenhall's coaching correctly, whether it's coming from

00:28 the top down. But at the end of the day, they've got a big game coming up and the atmosphere

00:33 at Old Trafford could definitely switch sides and go the other way. What are your thoughts

00:38 looking ahead to Wednesday?

00:40 Yeah, I think what you've said is spot on there. It's suddenly become a big game. They're

00:47 not going to win the Champions League. I think they've got a bit of hope if they drop down

00:53 in the Europa League of winning the trophy, maybe if things get better. But the Carabao

00:59 Cup at the moment looks certainly like the best opportunity to win a trophy, especially

01:02 when you consider that Man City aren't in it. Off the top of my head, Liverpool are

01:07 definitely still in it, I think Arsenal are still in it, Spurs are out on it as well.

01:12 So I mean, that's kind of a couple of the big boys already out. So yeah, I think it's

01:15 definitely one they should go for. At the same time, they're struggling with injuries,

01:19 United, and probably could do with rotating and keeping everyone fresh and in kind of

01:24 optimal conditioning at the moment, especially when you consider they've got a big Champions

01:29 League game next week as well that they won't be able to rest players for. But Ten Hag actually,

01:35 I mean, by and large in his first season, didn't particularly rotate all that much.

01:40 He did make a couple of changes for the Carabao Cup game the last time out against Palace.

01:44 But yeah, it's a big game. And Newcastle have a couple of injuries at the moment. And I

01:49 suppose they're in a somewhat similar position from United in that they'll see this is the

01:53 best opportunity of winning silverware, but will also want to rotate. Although they aren't

01:57 kind of playing with the baggage that United are at the moment. So yeah, listen, I think

02:02 both teams will make changes for it. And yeah, these games are kind of difficult to totally

02:08 call just because, you know, it's not the full strength sides that are going to be put

02:12 out. But it wouldn't be surprising if United get through purely based on the fact that

02:15 Newcastle are probably rest players. But it would be another difficult night. If United

02:20 were to lose, it would, as you say, very quickly change. And that negative atmosphere would

02:24 just continue to build around Ten Hag and the team.