Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has backed Manchester United to return to winning ways when they take on Swansea City in the League Cup fourth-round tie on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils suffered a shocking 2-1 loss to Huddersfield in the Premier League on Saturday, and Jose Mourinho has since slammed his team’s performance by claiming that their attitude was worse than a friendly.
Mourinho’s men secured a comfortable 4-0 victory over Swansea City in a league outing – earlier in August, but Nicholas expects a much-tighter affair this time around with the players wanting to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
“This should be an interesting one. I can see it being awkward for United and I think it will be a tight game. Jose Mourinho has obviously been angered by the way they played and Ander Herrera’s comments,” he told Sky Sports.
“His players will have been walking on egg shells and will be desperate to avoid any more mistakes. They will have that fear back in them and I think they’ll put in a hard-working and gritty performance to get the result.”
The former Arsenal and Celtic star has predicted a 2-1 triumph for the Mancunian giants, and this is probably a result Mourinho would take – owing to the recent injury crisis in the central defensive and midfield departments.
Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling are pretty much certain to take their positions at the heart of the backline, although Eric Bailly could make an injury comeback for the game.
However, the manager does not have a similar luxury in the midfield department with Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick all sidelined through injuries.
Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are the only fit senior midfielders in the ranks whilst Scott McTominay could be deployed after making the jump from the development squad earlier in the campaign.
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