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Out of the FA Cup and the Carling Cup: What’s left for Man United in England this year?

Samrin Hasib, February 2 2012,
A 2-0 win over Stoke brought United level on terms with City in the title race- the only competition they realistically have a chance to win this season.
United 2-0 Stoke
United 2-0 Stoke
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A top side always looks to ensure wins in two domestic competitions. In England, there are three- the Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. The Premier League and FA Cup reign over the Carling Cup in terms of importance. This season, United is not in the Carling Cup or FA Cup.

As the ball sailed past David De Gea in the dying minutes in the FA Cup, United fans knew that dreams of a cup victory would have to be pushed back at-least up to mid 2013. De Gea must have felt his own dreams of becoming a hero at United sink away with his side’s cup dreams.

Rivalries in football are very common. When a hated rival takes a team out of a competition, the pain is double that of a loss to another side. When Liverpool took United out of the FA Cup, the fans and the players must have felt simply awful. United would perhaps prefer to loss to City then to lose to Liverpool again.

United’s challenge in the Premier League is a serious one. Following events in midweek, they went level with City at the top of the table. They remain second due to an inferior goal difference though. The main question is whether United can match City or better their results in the remainder of the season considering the depth of City’s squad.

It is very rare that United actually takes part in only one domestic competition. While they are taking part in the Europa League too, very few believe that United will actually try to win the competition. The disadvantage for United is that their rivals City is involved in the same two competitions as well.

City’s approach to the two competitions they are involved in will perhaps be the same as United’s approach. City won’t be looking to win the Europa League considering the scant financial rewards the competition awards. City will look to win the Premier League, enter the Champions League and reap the benefits.

As a result, United for the first time since 2005 might finish a season trophy less. It is incredibly rare to see United fail to land a trophy nowadays. The Old Trafford faithful have not had to witness a barren spell in recent years such as the Gunners fans.

United still has the chance to win two competitions, one of which is a domestic trophy. Yet, they have looked slightly unconvincing in some matches. Some can argue that against Arsenal, they were perhaps a little lucky to have won the match. There were spells when Arsenal could have scored a second but failed to do so.

Also, United’s fixture list for the next few weeks is much tougher than that of City’s. United has to play Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in the span of the next few weeks while City’s next ‘tough’ assignment is against Chelsea in mid March.

So, will United end the season trophy less? I would like to hear your thoughts.

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