Manchester United are looking to make it four wins on the bounce against Nottingham Forest and Ruben Amorim has been told not to rule out a title challenge
Manchester United are enjoying a rare winning streak of three consecutive victories ahead of this weekend’s Premier League match.
Recent triumphs over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton have marked Ruben Amorim’s most successful period since he took charge exactly a year ago. The Red Devils will be aiming to maintain this momentum when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Amorim will be acutely aware that Forest have had a challenging season, and a victory over a team that recently appointed their third manager of the campaign could propel them beyond their current sixth-place position.
However, as is often the case with United, off-pitch events and transfer plans generate as much buzz as the performances on the field. Here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
Rashford’s Barcelona training verdict
Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has expressed his admiration for Marcus Rashford following the United loanee’s move to Spain in the summer.
The 28-year-old forward has already scored five goals and provided seven assists in 13 games this season for Hansi Flick’s team, reports the Mirror, with the La Liga giants desperate to secure his services permanently.
Rashford has also been open about his desire to make his move to Barcelona permanent at the end of this season. It seems he’s on the right track, with Szczesny offering insight into how Rashford has been performing both in training and during matches.
“He’s an excellent player, I love him a lot,” he said. “Direct in his play, attacks with speed, and he’s contributed to a lot of goals. I think he’s a complete player, and I remember him since he was 18 or 19 in the Premier League. I knew he was special back then.”
The Polish shot-stopper went on: “He has fewer goals than he deserves, because in training, when he’s having a good day, you can’t stop him. If he shows that magical right foot more in matches, he’ll be very dangerous.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s wisdom
Wayne Rooney has lifted the lid on the most valuable piece of guidance Sir Alex Ferguson ever shared with him. The forward spent nine seasons under the legendary Old Trafford gaffer, claiming five Premier League crowns and European glory.
Despite their occasionally rocky rapport, there’s little question that the Scottish mastermind was instrumental in shaping Rooney into the iconic frontman he ultimately became. Now the BBC analyst has opened up about a particular chat with Sir Alex that continues to resonate with him to this day.
Speaking on the most recent instalment of The Wayne Rooney Show, he revealed: “I always remember the one thing he said and he said it a few times, ‘The hardest thing to do in life is work hard.’ That stuck with me. Whatever job you’re doing, that can apply to anything really.
“I think in football we have talent, we have ability, but sometimes we don’t look at working hard every day. And you’d think that’s normal. You should do that if you play at a big club. But some players don’t. And so that was the one thing which stuck with me.”
Nani’s bold prediction
Former United legend Nani has declined to write off Amorim’s squad from the title race this campaign.
The 38-year-old ex-winger, who secured four league crowns during his seven-year stint at the club, delivered the remarkably upbeat assessment following the Red Devils’ recent performances.
Speaking about a potential championship challenge, he told Covers.com: “Why not? They are building a strong team and are trying to get back into real competition with the teams that are always at the top of the table: Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
“So, they are there now. They have the possibility. If they win the next few games, everything can change. So, we never know. Let’s keep on winning games and then we’ll see.”
Considering they’re already six points behind table-toppers Arsenal, forecasting a title bid this campaign appears rather ambitious, though Nani believes the absence of European commitments could benefit his former club. The Portuguese continued: “If it’s not this year, maybe they will get the confidence for next season. So, let’s see.
“Not being in Europe helps on one side, yes, but obviously everyone likes to see the team in European competitions because in the middle of the week, when you don’t see your team there, you get frustrated.”
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