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 seven wins and only one defeat in his first 10 games. That run includes statement victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. The only loss so far was a 2-1 reverse away to Newcastle, who scored a last-minute winner at St. James’ Park.

The reason United are off this weekend

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

Four FA Cup quarterfinals are scheduled between Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, 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 a point ahead of Aston Villa and six points clear of Liverpool. They are not back in action until Monday, April 13, when they host Leeds United in league play.

Because of the March international break, three-and-a-half weeks will have passed since their last game, a 2-2 draw away to Bournemouth on Friday, March 20.

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