Tuesday evening, Manchester United return to action at Old Trafford as they host Italian rivals AS Roma
Winless in nine games, the Red Devils are enduring their worst run in years, and the past two months have proved deeply frustrating for United fans.
Roma, by contrast, arrive in one of their strongest spells in recent memory. They have played 13 matches across all competitions this season and suffered just one defeat, against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Giallorossi sit third in Serie A, having thrashed Udinese 5-2 away on Saturday, and have scored 12 goals in their last three league outings.
The odds are not stacked in United’s favour. Their ongoing struggles in front of goal, combined with a porous backline, point to a tricky Tuesday night.
| Date | Competition | H/A | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/05/2021 | UEFA Europa League | A | AS Roma | 2-3 | L |
| 29/04/2021 | UEFA Europa League | H | AS Roma | 6-2 | W |
| 09/04/2008 | European Cup / Champions League | H | Roma | 1-0 | W |
| 01/04/2008 | European Cup / Champions League | A | Roma | 2-0 | W |
| 12/12/2007 | European Cup / Champions League | A | Roma | 1-1 | D |
| 02/10/2007 | European Cup / Champions League | H | Roma | 1-0 | W |
| 10/04/2007 | European Cup / Champions League | H | Roma | 7-1 | W |
| 04/04/2007 | European Cup / Champions League | A | Roma | 1-2 | L |
Hope for Man United
Yet while the encounter looks decidedly tough for the Manchester side, Roma’s Bryan Cristante has outlined why taking all three points from Old Trafford may still prove far from straightforward.
He told DAZN in comments transcribed by Voce Giallorossa:
“Yes, but it’s still Manchester United. They’re a strong team with a lot of quality players.
“It will be very difficult to play at their home ground, because they’ll want to do well and certainly bounce back.
“But we’ll go there and try to bring it home, as we always do. We’re taking it game by game, and clearly getting a positive result would be crucial for our Champions League position.”
If this United side needed any extra motivation heading into the fixture, Cristante has just provided it.
Man United players need to rise to the occasion
To wear the shirt of one of the world’s most prestigious clubs, a Manchester United player must possess real quality.
Against Chelsea on Saturday, Michael Carrick organised his team well and got his tactics spot on. Yet, the players failed to rise to the occasion by converting clear-cut chances, and poor defending ultimately cost them a positive result.
There is little doubt that if players such as Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Matheus Cunha produce their best form on Tuesday night, they can make it extremely difficult for Roma to leave with anything.
When the system or tactics alone cannot deliver, individual quality often saves the day. Every United player should step onto the pitch believing they can make the difference, and then go out and do exactly that.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
