As the English football season reaches its halfway point, fans of Manchester United will be hoping the team can create some positive momentum going into the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Following a busy Summer transfer window, it was expected that United would be challenging for top honours this season, but what has transpired is far from it.
Eliminated from both the Champions League and Carabao Cup, along with very little chance of challenging for the Premier League title, the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag's shoulders is significant and former United striker Dimitar Berbatov believes winning the FA Cup in May could save what has been a poor season for the Red Devils.
United begin this season's FA Cup campaign against Wigan Athletic on Monday night and Berbatov is eager for the players to put everything into what could be a season-defining cup run.
"Based on some of the recent games, especially the last match against Nottingham Forest, I never know which United team is going to turn up. When I expect United to win they lose. Sometimes I think United aren't going to win and then they do," Berbatov told Betfair.
"Ahead of their FA Cup third round tie away to Wigan on Monday evening, United players need to say to each other: 'Guys, this is our only chance of winning a trophy this season, let's put all of our energy and consistency into trying to get our hands on that trophy.'
"It's going to be great if they win the FA Cup but let's take one game at a time. It's not going to be easy, especially against League 1 Wigan because they will be thinking: 'We have a chance against this United team.'
"This is the only major trophy United can win this season and doing so could save their season. Of course, they need to chase a top four finish in the Premier by any means necessary, but winning the FA Cup would be something they can show off. United need to go full speed and try to win the competition."
United reached last season's FA Cup Final before being beaten 2-1 by rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium who then went onto become just the second English team to complete the Treble.