Manchester United face tricky trip to Wolves in FA Cup

The FA Cup quarter finals get underway this weekend. These latter stages of the tournament are normally where the surprise teams come unstuck and the big guns show the key to having strength in depth.

Despite being promoted only last season, Wolves have shown that they are not minnows when it comes to facing Premier League stalwarts. Manchester United boast 12 FA Cups to their name, but after that league defeat to Arsenal, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer will not take Wolves lightly.

The home side themselves have four FA Cup trophies in their cabinet, the last coming in the 1959-60 season, beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at the old Wembley Stadium.

Wolves’ chief Nuno Esprito Santo has guided his side to 7th in the Premier League, and his squad is filled with quality throughout. Goalkeeper Rui Patricio signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, and Joao Moutinho also made the move to the Black Country from Monaco.

The home side have a clean bill of health going into this game, although Santo has already revealed that John Ruddy will be between the sticks for this tie however he is wary of the threat Manchester United hold.

“They are a very good team in a very good moment. The performances and results have been fantastic. The big moments they have had have been fantastic. Ole is doing a fantastic job.”

The Manchester United side will come into this fixture buoyed at the prospect of pitting his wits against Barcelona, who his side were drawn against in the Champions League quarter final stage. But their coach is determined to fight in as many competitions as possible, starting with the FA Cup.

Ahead of the game, Solksjaer revealed his team news to the media, with an update on Romelu Lukaku;

“Yeah he’s had a sore foot this week he’s being assessed, so hopefully he’ll get through today. Phil Jones is back, there have been so many players out, Anthony (Martial) is back, Ander (Herrera) has been training, Jesse (Lingard) has been training and we’ve got a decision to make tomorrow on who’s match fit.”

Wolves last win against Manchester United came in 2011, a 2-1 victory at Molineux; George Elokobi and Kevin Doyle scoring after Nani put the Red Devils ahead.

The sides met in the Premier League in week six of this season, battling out a 1-1 draw with Fred and Moutinho getting the goals. Wolves proved on that day they have the ability to battle amongst the best, and will fancy themselves with the home crowd on their side.