Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd LIVE score: Result from Carabao Cup semi-final as Rashford, Weghorst and Fernandes net
Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester United: Erik ten Hag’s side have one foot in the Carabao Cup final after a thumping win
Manchester United put one foot on Wembley Way after taking firm control of their Carabao Cup semi-final with a 3-0 first-leg win at Nottingham Forest.
First-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes’ late third at the City Ground mean that only a miraculous turnaround in next week’s second leg will stop United appearing in the League Cup final at the national stadium next month.
Rashford’s strike was a moment of individual brilliance as he raced 50 yards and converted, Weghorst celebrated his first goal for the club since his loan move from Burnley while Fernandes effectively killed the tie at the death.
The win put United on the brink of returning to Wembley for their first domestic showpiece since losing the 2018 FA Cup final and Erik ten Hag will have the possibility of ending the club’s trophy drought, which stretches back to 2017, firmly in his sights in his first season at Old Trafford.
Relive all the action as Manchester United thump Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-finals:
Nottm Forest vs Man Utd
Manchester United are playing their first game at the City Ground since 1999. That last visit resulted in an 8-1 victory for the Red Devils.
Can the visitors get another win under their belts tonight?
Marcus Rashford’s importance to Manchester United is not lost on Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag believes Marcus Rashford is in the “best place” to realise his ambitions as the Manchester United boss looks to construct a team that can conquer England and Europe.
The Old Trafford giants are synonymous with silverware but have only won three major trophies since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out as a Premier League champion in 2013.
United have floundered for much of that time and are in the midst of their worst trophy drought in 40 years, having failed to land silverware since lifting the Europa League aloft in 2017.
Marcus Rashford’s importance to Manchester United is not lost on Erik ten Hag
The Dutchman is looking to construct a team that can conquer England and Europe.
Cooper says players are aware of importance of tonight’s game
"We’re really pleased to put the club on this stage again and we just want to make sure we do ourselves justice," said Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper in the build-up to tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
"Even before this round, we have been very clear about the club’s history in this competition to the players.
"We showed them the history, and I know it was a fairly long time ago, but that’s why supporters will get excited about this tournament, why they will put big importance on it. The players are aware."
Nottm Forest vs Man Utd team changes
Steve Cooper makes four changes to the Nottingham Forest side that started in the 1-1 draw with Wolves last time out in the Carabao Cup.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is ineligible to play so gets replaced with Wayne Hennessey. Sam Surridge, Scott McKenna and Danilo all start too.
Erik ten Hag elects to pick a strong line-up for this semi-final. Eight players who started the previous round match versus Charlton are switched out.
Casemiro returns along with heavy hitters, Bruno Fernandes, David De Gea and Marcus Rashford.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United line-ups
Nottingham Forest XI: Hennessey, Aurier, Worrall, McKenna, Lodi, Danilo, Freuler, Scarpa, Gibbs-White, Surridge, Johnson
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Weghorst
Nottingham Forest’s League Cup history providing motivation, claims Steve Cooper
Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest’s history is something those currently at the club embrace and want to use as motivation as they look to create “new moments”.
Forest’s honours list famously features a league title and two European Cup triumphs under Brian Clough, who also oversaw them winning four League Cups.
On Wednesday, they play in the semi-finals of the latter competition for the first time in 31 years, taking on Manchester United at home in the first leg before heading to Old Trafford for the second leg a week later.
Boss Cooper, who last season guided Forest back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence, said when asked how important the club’s history was to him when heading into big games like Wednesday’s: “I think we embrace it.”
Nottingham Forest’s League Cup history providing motivation, claims Steve Cooper
Brian Clough oversaw the club winning the competition four times
Forest’s league cup history
Nottingham Forest last reached the final of this competition in 1992 where they lost to Manchester United at Wembley.
They head into this game in good form though having lost just two of their last 11 games. That 1992 defeat was the most recent of their six final appearances in a competition they won four times between 1978 and 1990.
Can Forest go on to win it again this year?
Ten Hag wants to bring the winning feeling back to Man Utd
Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, wants to bring a ‘winning feeling’ back to the club after the Red Devils have gone almost six years since lifting their last piece of silverware.
"It’s the best feeling," he said. "I had the luck in my career to win some trophies and it’s magnificent, especially for the fans.
"It’s so great and I think the fans here have some experience, especially the older ones. But now it is a period Manchester United didn’t win trophies and it is too long ago.
"We are aware of that fact and we have to do everything to bring a trophy in."
Erik ten Hag tells Marcus Rashford to reject PSG and make Manchester United great again
Erik ten Hag has told Marcus Rashford to reject the chance of a move to Paris Saint-Germain, commit his future to Manchester Untied and help them become the best team in the world.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in December he would like to sign Rashford, particularly on a free transfer next summer. United then triggered a one-year extension to the forward’s contract and are in talks with him about a longer deal.
Manager Ten Hag said his top scorer to remain with the club he supported as a boy and that his tactics are helping Rashford, who has scored nine goals in his last nine games, find the most prolific form of his career,
Erik ten Hag tells Marcus Rashford to reject PSG and make United great again
The in-form Rashford is being courted by the French giants but his manager wants him to stay at Old Trafford
Cooper on playing in Carabao Cup semi-finals
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says that tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final is an ‘occasion to relish’ for his players and the fans.
The manager says that his team will commit themselves over both legs and look to reach the final of a competition that they have a lot of history in.
“It’s a big focus of ours to make it an occasion to relish. We’re proud to get to the latter stages of an important competition and the Club has a good history in it, so we’ve got to do what it takes to do well and do our best to deliver.” said Cooper,
“It’s going to be a tough couple of games, we’re only focused on the first leg at the moment so we have to commit to it and back ourselves otherwise it’ll be even more difficult.
“We need to recognise that these games might not come around too often and we’ve had to work hard to get here. We look forward to it, embrace it and attack it but in our way.
“This Club has a good history in the competition but we want to create more memories for the supporters because it’s our first League Cup semi final for a long time.
“We’ve got to focus on the tie and be ready to give it everything we’ve got.”
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