Bouncing back: United face defining period after FA Cup exit

Red Devils host Tottenham in crucial top-four Premier League tie

MANCHESTER/LONDON: Manchester United will begin a five-game period which could define their season when they seek to recover from the bitter disappointment of their FA Cup exit against Arsenal as they take on their conqueror’s North London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

After the meeting with Spurs at Old Trafford, Louis van Gaal's side take on Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in their next four games as the battle intensifies to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.

"You are right. It is very decisive, the coming matches," said van Gaal. "Of course, after a defeat at home, it is also important to see the reaction of the team. We play against a very good team in Tottenham.”

The former Barcelona and Holland manager was typically bullish. "We are so close with a lot of clubs. We can be second or third. It is not a big difference I believe,” he said. "We have to be one of the teams who to qualify. It is not good if it becomes the second year [without Champions League football]. But it is always possible because you never win every game and there are a lot of clubs going for it. But we have the confidence to reach the goal that we set at the beginning."

Van Gaal must decide upon whether to continue with Wayne Rooney in attack. "Now, in this moment, I think it is better to play Rooney [in attack]," he said. "But it can be another line-up on Sunday. It depends on what I see, the game plan of my opponent and then also from the suspensions I have or the injured players.”

Back to back victories have helped Tottenham move on quickly from their League Cup final defeat against Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino's side head to Old Trafford knowing a third successive win would move them level on points with United.

"We are having a great time," said Pochettino. "We go to Manchester United believing in our style and we will try to win. We have full respect for United but we are very focused on our game, which is the most important thing.”

 

Terry tells Chelsea to forget Euro woe

Like United, Chelsea also suffered cup heartache when they were knocked out by PSG in the Champions League on away goals on Wednesday. And skipper John Terry has challenged his Chelsea teammates to put their defeat behind them when they resume their Premier League title challenge against Southampton.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho responded to the frustrating midweek loss by declaring his confidence in his players' ability to bounce back. Mourinho's men are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City having played a game less than their nearest rivals.

But the visit of a Southampton side aiming for a top-four spot will provide a test of Chelsea's resilience as the Blues attempt to add the English title to their League Cup triumph earlier this month.

"We have to pick ourselves up and go again at the weekend because it's another big game against a very good Southampton side," said Terry. "We've got the League Cup out of the way, that's in our pocket, and now the Premier League is all we've got. We're a few points clear and we need to keep that gap.”

The Chelsea skipper will not be taking their opponents on Sunday lightly. "We can't stay down because Southampton will come here on the front foot, they're playing well and if we're not at it we'll drop points."

 
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