Match Preview
Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens is hoping to achieve a modicum of revenge on Pep Guardiola and Manchester Metropolis when the perimeters meet within the FA Cup fourth spherical tomorrow.
Wellens is a lifelong Manchester United supporter and nonetheless has a season ticket at Previous Trafford. And he says the success of United’s cross-town rivals lately has made his life a distress at occasions.
He mentioned: “I’ve to say Pep has triggered me numerous ache prior to now, me and my sons, with how good they’re.
“However it’s the very best of the very best. He’s a genius, he’s a pioneer, numerous coaches look as much as him. What he’s accomplished, particularly in English soccer, he’s modified numerous coaches’ pondering.”
Hear from Richie Wellens forward of our FA Cup fourth-round tie towards Manchester Metropolis.
Full interview 👇#LOFC #OneOrient
— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) February 5, 2025
Orient sit sixth in League One and proceed to make stable progress beneath Wellens however he accepts a conflict with Metropolis – regardless of all their points this season – is an enormous step up in high quality.
“We will’t wait,” he mentioned. “It’s good publicity for the membership and we’ve obtained numerous younger, gifted gamers who’ve actually grown this season so for them to go up towards a number of the greatest gamers on the planet is basically good for them.
“It’s extra about us attempting to placed on a present and keep within the recreation as a lot as attainable. Metropolis are an excellent soccer crew, however there are just a few vulnerabilities about them in the meanwhile. Can we attempt to expose them as a lot as we are able to?
“By way of the day, this membership virtually went out of enterprise six or seven years in the past so to be the place we’re within the league and to be internet hosting in all probability the very best crew the Premier League has ever seen is big testomony to the membership and the way far it has come.
“Our analysts have been of their factor this week, watching clips of PSG, Arsenal and Liverpool. We noticed some vulnerabilities there, however they’re enjoying towards prime, prime opposition. It’s a query of whether or not we’re remotely capable of capitalise on them.”
Manchester Metropolis head to London for the second weekend in succession and can count on to carry out higher than they did in shedding 5-1 to Arsenal on the Emirates final Sunday.
Metropolis did present their prowess towards lower-league sides in spherical three, nonetheless, hammering neighbours Salford Metropolis 8-0 on the Etihad.
Orient have taken a extra circuitous route with wins over Boreham Wooden, Oldham and Derby County.
Leyton Orient v Manchester Metropolis Workforce Information
Leyton Orient haven’t any contemporary harm worries though January signings Rarmani Edmonds-Inexperienced and Randell Williams are cup tied and never eligible.
Wellens will, due to this fact, select from the squad that misplaced 1-0 towards Stockport County final weekend.
Guardiola was protecting his playing cards near his chest when requested about his line-up however it’s probably it will likely be a mixture of the facet that beat Salford with a sprinkling of the brand new signings.
Which means Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis may make their debuts whereas Abdukodir Khusanov will get one other probability at centre-half.
Divin Mubama is more likely to change Erling Haaland in assault.
Leyton Orient v Manchester Metropolis Anticipated Line-ups
Leyton Orient: Keeley; Galbraith, Cooper, Happe, Currie; Pratley, Brown; Markanday, Donley, Abdulai, Kelman
Manchester Metropolis: Ortega; Nunes, Khusanov, Reis, Lewis; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Savinho, McAtee, Grealish; Mubama
Learn how to watch Leyton Orient v Manchester Metropolis: Dwell stream, TV channel
The sport kicks-off at 1245 at Brisbane Street. It’s being proven dwell on BBC One. It can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.