At 3:55 a.m. Beijing time on January 11, the third round of the FA Cup, Manchester United will host Aston Villa. If you ask which league has the tightest schedule, the answer is naturally the Premier League, in addition to the 38 rounds of leagues per season, there are two major cups, the League Cup and the FA Cup, and some teams also have to participate in European competitions. If you ask where the league competition is the most fierce, the answer is also the Premier League, other leagues are either one big, or two tigers, at most three feet, but the Premier League is at least five or six teams with the ability to compete for the championship, and the competition for European qualification is extremely fierce.
Not every team can have a thick squad like Manchester City, which can cope with a tight schedule, as well as injuries and suspensions that may occur at any time. Then, when fighting on multiple fronts, it is inevitable that there will be some trade-offs. This game against Manchester United and Aston Villa, also have to face a choice.
United's priority at the moment is to try to retain Champions League qualification, but the prospects are not optimistic. After losing 0-1 to Wolves in the 21st round of the Premier League, 19 games with 31 points ranked seventh in the Premier League table, four points behind fourth-place Arsenal, although one round less than Arsenal, Manchester United competed for the fourth place In addition to Arsenal, There are two fierce rivals in Tottenham and West Ham United.
Supposedly, United should now focus on the Premier League, with events like the FA Cup "strategically" abandoned. But Manchester United also need a trophy! Since Mourinho's Manchester United won the 2016-17 Europa League, they have not won a title trophy.
Aston Villa does not have such troubles as Manchester United, the overall strength of the team belongs to the middle of the Premier League, gerrard took over halfway, the record has improved, but by the end of the season, the possibility of qualifying for European competition is not very likely, of course, there will be no worry about relegation. In the FA Cup, Gerrard can completely let go, and if he can lead the team to win the championship, it will be a very great achievement.
United have won 5, drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
Aston Villa have won 4, drawn 0 and lost 6 of their last 10 matches in all competitions. The Premier League has suffered two consecutive defeats in the last two rounds.
Manchester United and Villa have met in the last 10 meetings, and Manchester United have the upper hand with 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. In their first league meeting this season, Villa beat Ronaldo's Manchester United 1-0 away.
In this game, Manchester United may have reservations, after all, in the next round of the Premier League, Manchester United will have to play another game with Aston Villa on the road. Aston Villa will not have so many scruples, and England star Owen predicted that Villa would beat Manchester United 2-1 in this game, which is not without reason.