Everybody turns up to face Manchester United. The club cannot be complacent heading into the final four matches.
A look at Manchester United’s fixture list heading into the final four games of the season might suggest there is not too much to worry about.
Three wins from four against Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham would seal a Champions League spot, with three of the matches at home.
All four look very winnable, especially with Chelsea losing six of their last seven matches in all competitions. But let’s not get carried away.
Declan Rice’s comments are a lesson to Manchester United
West Ham have not exactly been in great form this season. But it was typical to see them raise their game to face Manchester United.
Declan Rice told their club website: “I think that’s our best performance at home this season. We were on the front foot and we were aggressive in our 1v1s and on the ball. Everything today was a real positive performance.
“As a player, the whole world is watching these games. For me, for the lads, you put on the shirt, you go out there and you want to do it – you’re playing against Manchester United – you want to do it.”
Well isn’t that typical. An underperforming team lift their game for their cup final against Manchester United.
We have seen it time and time again, and this is why the players cannot take anything for granted in the last few games of the season.
The players can’t look at the fixture list and say, ‘three games at home, we’ll be fine’. That’s the attitude which will cost us.
Nor can we think any of Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea or Fulham will be pushovers, simply because their seasons are winding down and they could have nothing to play for.
As Rice points out, simply playing against Manchester United is all the motivation these teams need, it’s the highlight of their final month of the campaign.
If United aren’t ready for this, and lack the fight and the quality, they risk coming off second best.
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