IT’S A true case of David versus Goliath this Sunday as Manchester United head to Newport County.
FA Cup fever will hit South Wales when the Red Devils travel to Rodney Parade for the fourth round clash against the League Two side.
Erik ten Hag’s hugely-expensive squad will be desperate to avoid FA Cup embarrassmentRex
The Premier League giants, who ESPN claimed were the most expensive team in world football at the start of the season, have a squad assembled for just shy of a whopping £1BILLION.
But the only thing that has returned in recent seasons regarding silverware was last year’s Carabao Cup triumph.
As pressure continues to mount on boss Erik ten Hag amid the INEOS investment and his team’s poor form on the pitch, the FA Cup offers him an opportunity to relieve some of that.
However, any thoughts of a sunny cup final day at Wembley will be a million miles away when his team arrive at Newport.
They will be ushered through a small grey gate next to the main road at the 7,850-capacity ground upon arrival.
And then United will be greeted by beige tiles and peeling plaster once they enter the away changing-room and will have to make do with facilities far from what they are used to in the top-flight.
The away locker room also features faded paint on the walls, a fold-up table, physio’s chair, a few bins and two urinals.
The visiting dug-out also only holds a maximum of 13 people – that means emergency chairs will have to be deployed for United’s substitutes and coaching staff in front of the home fans.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
With United’s starting XI set to have cost the club close to £300m in transfer fees, all of the above should be no problem at all.
But Newport will be desperate to make headlines themselves and achieve their own piece of FA Cup folklore – and all with a team that cost next to nothing to assemble!
In fact, their record signing was a measly £30,000, which they paid Peterborough United for Joe Day back in 2014.
But they will not even have their record buy to call on this weekend with the goalkeeper currently on loan at Yeovil.
The game, which is being broadcast live on BBC, is set to bolster the coffers of the Exiles, who have the lowest budget in the fourth tier, to the tune of around £400,000.
And boss Graham Coughlan says it is not only the biggest game in the club’s history – he also hopes that it will finally allow him to have a few quid to spend before the January transfer window closes.
He said: “As a dressing room, as a group of players and staff, we have probably earned the right to maybe go in the transfer market and bring one or two players in.
“I would really love to try and build something and push on – hopefully the FA Cup can be a springboard, not only with the feelgood factor and the fans going home happy but the financial gain.”
MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: Stay up to date with all the latest transfer news from Old Trafford