Manchester United vs. Leicester City | FA Cup | Fourth Round

Manchester United welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday night, desperate to turn their fortunes around after setting an unwanted record last weekend. Their recent home form has been nothing short of abysmal, marking their worst run at Old Trafford in 131 years, a statistic that has left both fans and pundits questioning the direction of the club under Ruben Amorim.

Amorim, who was heralded as a modern tactician upon his appointment, has already suffered five defeats in seven home league games. To put that into perspective, that is more than his fellow countryman Jose Mourinho endured in two-and-a-half years at the club. The pressure is mounting on the Portuguese manager, and this FA Cup clash represents a critical opportunity to arrest their decline and regain some much-needed momentum. Facing a Leicester City side that has struggled just as much, if not more, could be the ideal scenario for United to rebuild confidence.

Last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford was yet another damning indictment of United’s struggles. It was not just the loss itself but the manner in which they succumbed that has set alarm bells ringing. Palace, a mid-table team at best, dismantled United with minimal resistance, their defensive frailties exposed time and again. This has been the recurring theme of Amorim’s tenure so far, with United suffering humbling defeats against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Palace at Old Trafford. Once an impenetrable fortress, the Theatre of Dreams has become a hunting ground for visiting teams, much to the dismay of the home supporters.

Despite their league struggles, United's performances in the FA Cup have been markedly better. They produced a stunning victory against Manchester City in the third round, followed by an impressive triumph over Arsenal. These wins showcased their capability to rise to the occasion, albeit inconsistently. However, with their Premier League campaign floundering, the FA Cup and the Europa League have become their only realistic paths back into European football next season. A club of Manchester United’s stature simply cannot afford another season outside of continental competition.

A glimmer of hope for the Red Devils lies in their excellent FA Cup record at home. They have not lost any of their last 18 FA Cup ties at Old Trafford in regular time, winning 16 of them. The last visiting team to claim victory at Old Trafford in this competition was Arsenal in the 2014-15 season. This statistic may provide Amorim and his players with some psychological respite, knowing that they have managed to perform better in this tournament than in the league. Moreover, the fact that they have already beaten Leicester twice this season adds another layer of optimism.

Intriguingly, Leicester’s current manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, was on the United bench for both of those previous victories. The former United legend oversaw their 5-2 and 3-0 wins in the EFL Cup and Premier League, respectively, before being appointed Leicester's manager just weeks later. This adds an interesting subplot to the fixture. Will van Nistelrooy, once a hero at Old Trafford, be the architect of United’s downfall, or will he suffer a third consecutive defeat at his old stomping ground? If United manage to defeat Leicester again, it will mark the first time in their history that they have beaten a club three times at home in a single season.

History, however, warns against complacency. The last time these two sides met in the FA Cup, Leicester emerged victorious. In 2021, they defeated United in the quarter-finals en route to lifting the trophy. That match served as a reminder that Leicester, despite their struggles, have the ability to rise to the occasion. However, the circumstances this time are vastly different. Leicester are no longer the formidable side they were under Brendan Rodgers, and their form has taken a significant nosedive.

Last season, Leicester, despite being a Championship club, managed to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, only to be eliminated by Chelsea. At the time, morale within the squad was still relatively high, and they had a strong sense of unity. Fast forward to the present, and the situation is vastly different. The Foxes are in dire straits, with confidence at an all-time low.

Their dismal performance against Everton last weekend only compounded their misery. Just a week after securing a shock win against Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester were annihilated 4-0 by the Toffees. That defeat was not just a loss—it was an embarrassment. Everton, a team fighting relegation, dominated them from start to finish, exposing their defensive frailties and lack of cohesion. As a result, Everton now sit nine points clear of Leicester in the battle to avoid relegation. Later that same day, Wolves' victory over Aston Villa saw Leicester drop back into the bottom three, a reflection of their abysmal run of eight defeats in their last nine games. With the transfer window now closed and no significant reinforcements brought in, van Nistelrooy faces an uphill battle to turn things around.

Manchester United, too, experienced a turbulent transfer window. One of the biggest talking points was the departure of Marcus Rashford, who left the club in the final days of the window. On the flip side, Alejandro Garnacho remained at Old Trafford, despite interest from European giants. However, Amorim’s primary wish—a new striker—was not granted. This was particularly concerning given that he resorted to deploying youngster Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine in their previous match over established forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Such decisions have left fans bewildered and raised further questions about the club’s overall strategy.

Further complicating matters is the mounting injury crisis at Old Trafford. Lisandro Martinez's season is over after he tore his ACL in the defeat to Palace, a devastating blow to United's already fragile backline. He joins Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, and Mason Mount on the injury list. In a bid to reshuffle his squad, Amorim sanctioned the loan departure of Tyrell Malacia to PSV Eindhoven. However, the club did manage to bring in Patrick Dorgu as one of their late signings, and he could make his debut against Leicester. Additionally, goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is expected to be handed a rare start, especially after his heroics in the third-round win over Arsenal.

Leicester, meanwhile, have their own injury concerns to contend with. Mads Hermansen made his return from a six-week layoff against Everton, but he has yet to feature in any cup competition this season. As a result, Jakub Stolarczyk may be preferred in goal for this encounter. Elsewhere, Wilfred Ndidi is edging closer to a return from a thigh injury, but Ricardo Pereira and Abdul Fatawu remain sidelined with long-term issues.

Given their recent struggles, van Nistelrooy may opt for a more attacking approach to counteract their frailties. Facundo Buonanotte and Stephy Mavididi could be drafted in to provide more width and dynamism in the final third. Meanwhile, Jannik Vestergaard, who has struggled in recent weeks, is likely to lose his place in the starting lineup.

Ultimately, this match represents a pivotal moment for both sides. Manchester United need a win to alleviate the mounting pressure on Amorim and keep their hopes of silverware alive. Leicester, on the other hand, are desperate to halt their alarming slide and avoid yet another humiliating defeat. With so much at stake, this FA Cup clash promises to be a gripping affair, filled with intrigue, drama, and high stakes. Whether United can capitalize on Leicester’s woes or if van Nistelrooy masterminds a stunning upset remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the Theatre of Dreams is set for another night of compelling football.