United Men Braced For Key Cup Weekend

All eyes will be on Old Trafford when Manchester United take on West Ham United in the weekend's fourth and final Emirates FA Cup quarter-final, with the hosts seeking an antidote to a difficult week.

Despite the prevailing sense of disappointment that followed United's 2-0 Europa League defeat to Liverpool on Thursday, Louis van Gaal's men are still in contention on three fronts and the manager is telling his players they must believe themselves ahead of another important cup tie.

“There is of course much more pressure on us now, but it is also possible [that we win] against West Ham,” the boss told journalists in his post-match press conference at Anfield.

“We are still in three competitions, so we need to fight," he added. “We still have the chance to win something and you have to believe in that."

The Reds will no doubt be buoyed by the opportunity to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley in April, something that goalkeeper David De Gea – fresh from yet another standout display against Liverpool - would relish.

“To play there is a really good experience, as it is a stadium with a lot of history of big games and trophies - hopefully we will be there,” the Spaniard told MUTV.

“For a club like Manchester United, we always try to win everything,” De Gea continued. “We have to give everything to win a trophy and that’s what we want – we’ll try to do our best to win a trophy and make it a good season.

“We know West Ham are a really good team, but we have to win to reach Wembley to be in the semi-final, and I think it’s a good moment to win this game.”

Marouane Fellaini echoed the views of both United’s no. 1 and his manager by hammering home the point that he and his team-mates still have much to play for and must not be distracted by the negative result on Merseyside as the run of big fixtures continues.

“We didn’t do [enough] against Liverpool, but now we have to focus on the next game,” Fellaini told reporters. “We have a big game against West Ham in the FA Cup [on Sunday] before a second challenge against Liverpool. That game is not finished, we’re playing at home in front of our own supporters next Thursday and we simply have to score two goals."