After a dominant 3:0 victory in the first leg of the English League Cup, Erik ten Hag called for calm ahead of the second leg. The Manchester United boss has said his players “need to be focused” if they want to take the final step towards Wembley. The Brazilian contingent of the Red Devils scored three more goals in the FA Cup tie against Reading this weekend, which is probably enough for this opposition already. Given that United have yet to lose a home game with a score that would see them relegated from the cups since October 2021. The only thing that might scare Manchester fans is the fact that Man Utd have only won the trophy three times after having two successes in the 1/2 tournament. However, the hosts have beaten Nottingham Forest 3:0 already twice this season and could make history by doing so three times by 3+ in a single football year. Today Van de Beek, Townbese, Sancho, Martial, Greenwood, Eriksen and Dalot, who has a hip injury, will not be able to enter the field.
Nottingham Forest have the relative advantage of a no-match weekend, having been knocked out of the FA Cup against modest Blackpool in January. Hopes for success in today’s game, of course, are minimal, but “dexterous trees” need serious support, because the record of England is at stake. Today the guests have a chance to become the first team in English football history to overcome a three-goal deficit in the semi-final of the League Cup. There have been several historic victories for the Foresters at Old Trafford that could have spurred them on to success. But, unfortunately, the most recent of these major victories was achieved thanks to the all-star Forest team in 1977 with a 4:0 score. Copying the legendary Brian Clough and his historic team that won two European Cups is a dream for Steve Cooper. In the Premier League championship, the guests have five victories and six draws, which in the end corresponds to 21 points and 13th position in the standings. Today Yates, Richards, Niahate, Kouyate, Henderson, Biancone and Avona, who are not in the best shape, remain on the bench today.
