West Ham United have been drawn away at Oxford United in the Carabao Cup Third Round, but the timing of the match could prove costly.
The Hammers will travel to the Kassam Stadium in the week commencing 23 September, but host Manchester United on Sunday 22.
No matter which team you support, fixtures against Man United are always considered as some of the biggest on the football calendar.
West Ham will rightly be full of confidence at the London Stadium too, following last season’s 3-1 triumph over Jose Mourinho’s dismal side.
Now managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Man United have a considerably more favourable third-round tie at hand, with Rochdale visiting Old Trafford.
The Carabao Cup must be high in Manuel Pellegrini’s priorities this season, so will having one eye on the trip to Oxford cost him against United?
Solskjaer will be comfortable heavily rotating against Rochdale at home and should have both eyes firmly on the West Ham game with a full-strength team.
Don’t get me wrong, the Irons are also certain to go all-out against the Red Devils and rotate against Oxford, but Pellegrini’s higher reliance on the cup competition could prove fatal.
You’d hope a manager of Pellegrini’s experience will be able to sufficiently manage both games at a time and get a result from both, mind.
