Manchester United reached their first ultimate underneath Erik ten Hag by securing secure passage to the Carabao Cup semi-finals on the expense of Nottingham Forest.

The Pink Devils have loved an excellent run after their notorious losses to Brighton and Brentford earlier within the season. They’re firmly within the Champions League qualifying combine and are nonetheless alive within the FA Cup and Europa League.

Nonetheless, their commitments in cup competitions imply that Ten Hag faces a troublesome February as they attempt to steadiness enjoying time for a aspect not too long ago hit with accidents to key gamers.

Here is United’s truncated schedule forward of the Carabao Cup ultimate, together with some juicy derbies and European fixtures.

Contemporary from sealing their place within the Carabao Cup ultimate in opposition to Newcastle, United return to the Premier League once they host Crystal Palace at Outdated Trafford on Saturday 4 February at 15:00 GMT.

The 2 groups met a couple of weeks in the past of their first assembly of the season when Michael Olise’s late free-kick gave Palace a degree after Bruno Fernandes’ objective simply earlier than halftime.

Manchester United and Leeds are fierce rivals and the strain between the 2 groups has risen once more following Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League.

The Pink Devils have scored 15 targets within the 4 video games in that point, failing to win solely as soon as once they drew 0-0 in April 2021. The match was initially postponed following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II in September and can happen on Wednesday. February 8 at 20:00 GMT.

That social gathering shakeup means the 2 states will meet twice in 4 days.

On this match final season, two headless chickens clashed as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds have been overwhelmed 4-2 by Ralf Rangnick’s Man Utd. Objectives from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes gave the guests a 2-0 lead earlier than two targets in two minutes from Rodrigo and Raphinha to sq. issues.

Substitutes Fred and Anthony Elanga gave the Pink Devils the three factors. Nonetheless, they’d win simply three extra league video games earlier than the tip of the season.

The stakes actually rise in mid-February when Man Utd journey to Barcelona to tackle the Catalan giants on the Camp Nou within the knockout spherical of the Europa League play-offs.

It’s Barça that has taken the lead in the previous few matches, having received the final 4 matches between the 2 groups.

As soon as they return dwelling from the journey to Catalonia, United should take care of a house sport in opposition to Leicester.

The Foxes have endured a turbulent type this season however have largely been a multitude on the again, although the edges solely broke up on Jadon Sancho’s strike that they met in September.

The second leg of the Europa League spherical of 16 will decide who, between United and Barça, continues within the secondary membership competitors on the continent.

United’s final victory over Barça got here at Outdated Trafford in 2008 when Paul Scholes scored the one objective of a Champions League semi-final tie to ship his group to the ultimate in Moscow.

Two of probably the most improved groups this season will meet within the Carabao Cup ultimate on the finish of February when Newcastle tackle Man Utd.

Either side are looking for Champions League qualification and every are at the moment within the prime 4 and this assembly may very well be a chance to ship a major psychological blow.