With the FA Cup as the only possible glory left in a frustrating Manchester United season, Bournemouth could take advantage of United’s rotation and book their Premier League place for next season.
Despite postponing Manchester City’s Premier League celebrations after a 3-2 win at the Etihad, the loss at home to West Brom that gave Manchester City the title sums up the frustration Man United have had all season. United was unable to compete in the league and got knocked out early in the EFL Cup and Champions League in shocking fashion. These results highlight the inconsistency and doubt surrounding Mourinho’s reign at the Stretford End.
The Red Devils were not able to compete with Man City in another season of heavy investment to the squad. Possible internal problems have José Mourinho needing to do everything he can to finish the season with honour.
For Mourinho and United, the FA Cup is a perfect opportunity to rebound. The game against Tottenham on Saturday will be tough but it’s a real possibility of achieving glory and Mourinho’s focus is entirely on that.
Bournemouth has been able to overachieve once again since their promotion two years ago. They are in 11th place with five games to play. The Cherries have a real possibility of finishing in the Top 10 with good results. It is a good scenario for a team that has been consistent for three years. The coast side is only two points below the 40-point mark that guarantees them safety. They still have to finish strong.
Rotation for United will be inevitable
It’s clear that Mourinho will play with all he’s got to win the FA Cup. A possible trophy could be used as an excuse for his failures.
In his pre-match press conference for the meeting at Bournemouth on Wednesday, Mourinho said that rotation is guaranteed for the tie:
"The word is not rotation. This is an opportunity for some people to play and to try to get a place in the team. Some of the guys who played [against West Brom], they don’t have a place in that team."
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With the Premier League decided and United with an almost guaranteed place in next season’s Champions League, it makes sense to focus on a chance of winning a trophy. We should see the likes of Scott McTominay, Phil Jones, and Marouane Fellaini coming back to the team. Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, and Sergio Romero are all hoping to be featured as well.
It’s a good chance to rest some of the key players and re-evaluate what Mourinho has on this team. For the likes of Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian, who have been linked with moves away recently, it’s a good chance to show why they deserve to stay.
Bournemouth should take advantage and guarantee safety
With a crowded race against relegation at the bottom of the pile, a victory for Bournemouth against Manchester United would be a huge statement to make, especially after the comprehensive 3-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday.
Manager Eddie Howe highlighted the importance of the match seeing the bigger picture:
"You can see down the bottom of the league how tight it is, with everyone scrambling to get above the 40-point markOne or two disappointing results and you can tumble down the league; from our perspective we’ve been consistent in our league position for a while, due to our form and being difficult to beat, we’ve been picking up points all the way through, and we don’t want to lose that position."
The importance of the game is big for Bournemouth and they should really take advantage of United’s recent slump and rotation.
Their consistency and ability to overcome difficult situations this season just shows how strong they are. With eye-catching performances and an attacking style of play, it’s good to see the job Eddie Howe has been able to do at Bournemouth. A victory against Manchester United would be a statement to make and an opportunity of solidifying their name among the Premier League regulars.