Why United are equipped for February's fixtures

Some people might view it as a ‘spell from Hell’ but caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is embracing the upcoming challenges for his Manchester United team.

Progress in the Emirates FA Cup - and another unkind draw, this time against Chelsea - means the big games come thick and fast for the Reds in February, plus more to come in the first half of March.

With the Champions League on the horizon, and two blockbuster clashes with Paris Saint-Germain, this is a period that will truly test the mettle of our in-form side.

Ever since Ole and the team embarked on the winning run, that stretched to eight matches, there has been talk that more difficult obstacles lie on the horizon.

The targets remain to reach the top four and compete for silverware at home and abroad, while the opportunity to derail leaders Liverpool’s title bid at Old Trafford is one that every fan will hope is not passed up.

It means the pressure is on but, as somebody who was integral to clinching three trophies in the space of 10 days in 1999, in a genuine all-or-nothing situation, Ole feels it comes with the territory of being at a club like United.

”I feel the squad is very equipped,” he said. “We've now had six weeks together. We've found out what strengths and weaknesses we've got. I think we've risen to most of the challenges.

“Maybe, of course, the setback of the Burnley game, the two goals we conceded, maybe they will make us move to the next level, because I think we've given ourselves a chance now to get into the top four maybe earlier than we thought.

”So I'm sure that, it's not too many games you know, because there's still a week between every single one of them, but it's tough opposition. Definitely. You start with this game against Leicester, Fulham away as well is also a tough one. Then you've got the three, let’s call it, big ones with PSG, Chelsea and Liverpool after each other.

“A very hard one after that - you think, well we've done with them three – [Crystal] Palace away. So, it's a tough month as you say, but we're ready. I've got a big squad, as you say. It's only Marcos Rojo now who's out for a period. The rest are fit and available.”

UNITED'S UPCOMING FIXTURES

Sun 3 Feb – Leicester City (A) 14:05 GMT – Premier League
Sat 9 Feb – Fulham (A) 12:30 GMT – Premier League
Tue 12 Feb – PSG (H) 20:00 GMT – Champions League
Mon 18 Feb – Chelsea (A) 19:30 GMT – Emirates FA Cup
Sun 24 Feb – Liverpool (H) 14:05 GMT – Premier League
Wed 27 Feb – Crystal Palace (A) 20:00 GMT – Premier League