Home Run Is Ideal Platform

A run of three home games in succession provides Manchester United with the perfect platform to gain some momentum leading into the next international break.

The last time the Old Trafford faithful saw the players was when applauding them off the field in the wake of a derby defeat to Manchester City. As disappointing as that reverse was, the spirit showed in attempting to claw back a two-goal deficit and a couple of instances of bad luck contributed to the Blues coming out on top.

There did not seem too much to be downhearted about. United had made a superb start to the season and were edged out by our neighbours, something that can now be avenged in next month's EFL Cup tie.

However, another loss for a reshuffled side at Feyenoord and the 3-1 reverse at Watford, which followed soon afterwards, caused a meltdown in the media that can only politely be described as a knee-jerk reaction.

Of course, this is Manchester United and the scrutiny is always going to be intense. Negative results often generate lead news stories and nothing else is to be expected but any hugely premature talk of a crisis can be put to bed by the early days of October.

Wednesday's victory at Northampton Town, when it felt like the whole sports reporting world were hoping for a giant-killing act, has steadied the ship and Michael Carrick said afterwards it is time to get back on track. Nothing is more important than the Premier League and the visit of the champions is an ideal opportunity to deliver a message to the rest of the division.

After those three challenging trips on the road, the home fans will be fully behind the side again and expecting an entertaining game against Claudio Ranieri's Foxes, who are certain to provide a real test for a team still looking to fire on all cylinders as Jose Mourinho continues to get his ideas across.  

The boss has built his success on truly remarkable home records and will be determined to make Old Trafford a fortress as quickly as possible, hopefully starting with a morale-boosting win over last season's top dogs. The fact United play first this weekend, in yet another early kick-off, means some pressure can be exerted on the sides currently above the Reds in the table.

It is back to the Theatre of Dreams next Thursday for a first-ever meeting with Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League and a chance to recover from the reverse in Rotterdam by pushing up the Group A table.

Stoke City's visit on 2 October rounds off the three home games in eight days and, hopefully things will be looking much rosier come the time of the crunch clash at Liverpool over two weeks later.

Mourinho should have a clearer picture of who can best implement his game-plan for Anfield, as he has stressed he bases his judgement primarily on matchday performances, and there must be faith that a number of players will be in top form by then and buoyed by an upturn in fortunes.

This latest busy spell all begins with Leicester on Saturday lunchtime and, as has been the case so many times in the past, let us hope the Reds can rise to the challenge.