FA CUP: Huddersfield Target First Q’final in 46 Years against Manchester U

With Manchester recent stuttering in recent times, the last being the 1-0 loss to relegation-bound Newcastle United, Huddersfield, boosted by their last two wins would be hoping to book their first FA Cup quarter final place since 1972 ahead of today’s Red Devil’s visit

H uddersfield are targeting a first FA Cup quarter-final since 1972 as they look to beat Manchester United on home soil for the second time this season. The Terriers have won their last two games 4-1, including a surprise result against in-form Bournemouth.
Steve Mounie is hoping to continue a run of three goals in his last four games, but manager David Wagner knows it will be difficult to repeat Huddersfield’s memorable 2-1 win over United from October.
He said: “The priority since day one has been the Premier League. This doesn’t mean we don’t like to be successful in the other competitions as well. We will not worry about this situation. It is our present for our fans that we play Man Utd in the fifth round of the FA Cup at home – the oldest competition in the world.
“It’s a great occasion, a great situation, a great moment even if we have some injury problems. It’s the cup so we can play this game with all the freedom we have against one of the biggest names in world football at the John Smith’s Stadium.”
Huddersfield Town defender Scott Malone believes the club’s Premier League win over Manchester United earlier this season will be a confidence boost as they aim to topple Jose Mourinho’s side in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round match.
Huddersfield pulled off a shock 2-1 league win over United at the John Smith’s Stadium in October but fell to a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this month.
“We’ve got Manchester United for the third time this season… we are all looking forward to it,” Malone told the club’s website.
“They’re a good side and put you under a lot of pressure. We’ve played a deep block against them twice now, beat them at home and lost away. It’ll be interesting to see what we doSaturday as there’s no points to play for. We want a good cup run and we are going into the game to win it.”
Jose Mourinho concentrated on the form of Paul Pogba in the build-up to the game, calling reports of a breakdown between himself and the France international as lies.
“It’s very difficult to put me in a position where I have to criticise my players,” said Mourinho when quizzed on Pogba’s lack of form, which saw the £89m midfielder dropped when United last faced Huddersfield a fortnight ago.
“It is my problem; it is the player’s problem. A big lie that our relationship is not good, a big lie that we don’t communicate, a big lie that we don’t agree with his positions and his involvement in the dynamic of the team. So, be objective and say what we all know – in the last couple of matches he didn’t play well. Period. End of story.”

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