With the possible arrival of Juan Mata raising hopes around Old Trafford, the doom and gloom could be lifted even more if Manchester United overturn a first leg deficit against Sunderland in the Capital One cup semifinals on Wednesday night.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for a 7.45 pm GMT (1.15 am IST) start with live coverage on Sky Sports 1 in the UK and Ten Action in India. Live streaming option is available for the game in the UK HERE, while US viewers can live stream the action HERE. Catch the match in North Africa and the Middle East HERE, while rest of Africa viewers can do the same HERE. Live streaming option for viewers in Latin America is HERE.
United trail 2-1 going into the second leg at Old Trafford, after an own goal from Ryan Giggs and a strike from Fabio Borini rendered Nemanja Vidic's goal a mere consolation in the first leg at the Stadium of Light a couple of weeks ago.
The reigning English Premier League champions haven't had too much to smile about since then, with the loss, and a comfortable one at that, to Chelsea on Sunday only compounding David Moyes' problems.
"We're going to go out and do everything we can to get through," Moyes told MUTV after United 3-1 loss at Chelsea in the Premier League. "I want to give the supporters something to cheer about. There's not been an awful lot and I'm fully aware of that."
Getting to a Cup final, against neighbours and big rivals Manchester City, after Manuel Pellegrini's men eased into the summit clash with a 9-0 aggregate victory over West Ham, might just be the tonic needed for United to get back into their groove.
"It would give us all a big lift," midfielder Tom Cleverley told Manchester United's official website. "We might be going through a bad patch but it's a semifinal of a cup competition and we've got to win it.
"I think it will be a great atmosphere and it's a chance for us to get to Wembley for a cup final which, from a personal perspective, is something I've never been involved in. Getting a result on Wednesday gives us a chance to go on to win some silverware and that's what this club is all about."
Sunderland did really well to come back from two goals down and force a draw against Southampton in the Premier League at the weekend. The Black Cats are still stuck in the relegation zone, tied with bottom club Cardiff City and third from bottom West Ham, but there have been signs of some improvement and fight of late.
"You don't get to a semifinal every year -- sometimes not even in 10 years," Sunderland manager Gus Poyet told the club's official website.
"It's a great opportunity to put ourselves in a final but we've only done part of the job. You never know how much -- whether 50 percent or not -- but definitely a part. We must go there and try to make sure we finish the job and put ourselves in the final."
If Sunderland score a goal, it will put the pressure on United to find at least find two, and the way Moyes' men have been defending of late, you wouldn't put too much money on the home side keeping a clean sheet.
"The idea is to play the game and then you make decisions," Poyet added. "We need a complete game -- we must defend well, be strong and be good on the ball -- much better than the other day [against Southampton].
"We must attack to create chances and score goals. If we score then it will be more difficult for Manchester United."
Team news: Manchester United: Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney will undergo late fitness tests to assess their availability. The superstar strike duo returned to training earlier this week, and it remains to be seen whether Moyes will take a risk with either - Rooney seems to have a better chance of making it than Van Persie. Nemanja Vidic begins the first of his three-match suspension after losing an appeal for the straight red card against Chelsea.
Sunderland: Santiago Vergini and Oscar Ustari, the Argentina internationals who completed their move to the Stadium of Light earlier this week, could make their debuts, while Steven Fletcher is expected to start. Carlos Cuellar and goalkeeper Kieren Westwood, though remain sidelined.
