Why aren’t Manchester United playing this weekend?

Since the firing of Ruben Amorim and the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager through the end of the season, Manchester United’s mini resurgence has been one of the biggest stories in English soccer.

Carrick, who returned to Old Trafford on Jan. 13, has overseen six wins in his first eight games. That run includes statement victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. The only blemishes so far were a 1-1 draw away to West Ham on Feb. 10, and a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in The Red Devils’ most recent game on Mar. 4.

The reason United are off this weekend

United will have to wait to try to return to winning ways, however, as they are, unusually, not in action this weekend. The FA Cup, rather than the Premier League, takes center stage.

Eight FA Cup games are scheduled between Friday, Mar. 6, and Monday, Mar. 9, but none feature United, who have already been eliminated from the competition.

How United’s FA Cup fortunes have shifted

Two days before Carrick’s appointment, the 13-time Premier League champions were beaten 2-1 by Brighton at Old Trafford in Darren Fletcher’s second game as caretaker manager. Fletcher, Carrick’s former United teammate, has since returned to his previous role with the club’s Under-18 team.

United have also won the FA Cup 13 times, but only three of those triumphs have come since 1999. Once the most decorated team in the competition’s history, they have been overtaken by Arsenal, who have lifted the trophy seven times in that span to move onto 14 total victories.

When is Manchester United’s next game?

Manchester United, currently third in the Premier League table, are ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference and three points clear of both Chelsea and Liverpool. They are not back in action until Sunday, Mar. 15, when they host Villa in league play.

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