Man U, Spurs, Chelsea set sights on FA Cup
Last chance for English powerhouses to win piece of silverware
London – With dreams of European glory in tatters, top English Premiership sides Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention to the FA Cup quarterfinals this weekend clinging to their last chance of silverware this season.
The competition’s lustre may have dulled in recent years as managers prioritise so-called bigger prizes, but Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino will have their eyes firmly fixed on a Wembley date on May 19.
Mourinho’s Manchester United, still reeling from a meek Champions League exit against Sevilla on Tuesday, host Brighton and Hove Albion, Conte’s Chelsea travel to Leicester City and Pochettino takes his Tottenham side to Swansea City.
Third-tier Wigan Athletic, the unlikely spanner in the spokes of Manchester City’s bid for a quadruple, welcome topflight strugglers Southampton who will have new manager Mark Hughes, hired to save them from relegation, in the dugout for the first time.
Mourinho’s one and only FA Cup triumph was with Chelsea in 2006/07 and the Portuguese will be well aware that adding a record-equalling 13th for United is now the bare minimum requirement from his second season at Old Trafford.
United striker Romelu Lukaku, who scored a consolation goal against Sevilla, knows United must respond. “We have to bounce back. We have one trophy to chase and that is the FA Cup,” he said.
While United were lambasted for their defeat by Sevilla, Chelsea earned some credit despite a 3-0 loss to Barcelona on Wednesday.
They are far from assured a top-four finish in the English Premier League and Leicester, with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez in form, will be a tough proposition at the King Power on Sunday.