Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be desperate to improve on a desperately poor season that left in sixth place and without a trophy in sight.
It’s got to better, hasn’t it? Surely things can’t get much worse than the end of season dip which saw United taste victory twice in their remaining 12 fixtures.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the club’s next movements in the transfer market having already seen Wales youngster Daniel James step through the door, with further rumours linking the likes of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan Bissaka to Old Trafford. Indeed, we’ve been looking at what fans can expect now the fixture is out and our latest piece takes us to the Theatre of Dreams.
Taking a brief moment to look past anticipated market magic and toward where it really matters, the pitch, United fans should be licking their lips at the prospects of the following two fixtures…
Norwich vs Manchester United: Saturday 26 August 2020
On paper, this should be an easy enough game, with United claiming seven wins in the previous ten meetings.
Fresh from their fixture against Liverpool, United will either be hoping to build on a prestigious victory or bounce back from a bitter defeat.
Whatever the motivation, the game against Norwich City is a must win for the Red Devils. Partly because fans and critics alike will expect the beast that is Manchester United Football Club to gobble up the frankly inferior Norwich City, but mostly due to the fact their journey to Carrow Road is the first of what some might considered five “easy” fixtures against Bournemouth, Brighton, Sheffield United and Aston Villa (though we’re firmly of the belief that anything can happen in the top flight).
Not to mention the small fact that after that run, Solskjaer’s men face Spurs, Manchester City, Watford, Newcastle and Burnley.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United: Saturday 18 April 2020
When the club’s official site conducted a poll asking supporters which of the three promoted stadiums supporters favoured the most – out of Bramall Lane, Carrow Road and Villa Park – the resounding response was for the home of Aston Villa, with 86% of the vote.
And for good reason. Not only is it a match-up against two of the five English sides who have claimed the top European prize, but it’s also a fixture between two of the most prominent clubs in English football. Goliaths who, for all intents and purposes, have hit hard times of late.
Not to mention the fact that United’s ‘home from home’ has been kind to the club over the years. Very kind, indeed. And not since 1999 have the Red Devils lost on that beautifully mown turf (winning 11 and drawing four).
A welcome return.
Manchester United fans, do you agree with our selections? Let us know in the comments below…