I feel like it isn't a good return for him though, nor for United, or anyone for that matter.
Where both United and Leicester are at the moment ain't great which is why this game and competition could be exactly what the two sides need.
Ruben Amorim's team have been quite inconsistent although did give us quite a game in the last round of this tournament whilst Leicester have been one of the worst teams in the league since van Nistelrooy's appointment.
They need this win as much as we do.
That should make it interesting.
Predicted Lineup
Because of how serious this game is for us and having pretty much a week off since the defeat to Palace, I don't think Amorim will be looking to make too many changes. I believe he will go quite strong.
Bayindir is the cup goalkeeper (unfortunately as he should be the regular 'keeper) so he should replace Onana.
Ahead of them will NOT see new signings Dorgu and Heaven as I think this is too important a game for the manager to throw them in. It isn't out of the realms of possibility if he does but considering the importance of this competition to our season, I doubt any risks will be taken.
A back three of the tried and tested trio of Mazraoui, Maguire and De Ligt. No Martinez as he is out for the rest of the season with that ACL injury. I've gone for Mazraoui as part of the three because this will give the manager the chance to play Amad on the right, which is where he is at his best.
We need something going forward down at least one flank and Amad can provide this. Mazraoui has also looked a lot better as a RCB instead of a RWB and he and Amad have developed a decent partnership over the course of the season whenever they have played in these positions.
Amorim will then also have the opportunity to play an extra attacker in this case.
But Dalot will stay on the left with Bruno and Ugarte remaining in midfield.
This means Mainoo and Garnacho can play as the CAMs with Zirkzee starting up top. Honestly, it could be either striker at this point because neither are good enough. But they at least know how to play that role better than Mainoo and we do look a better side with an actual centre-forward.
Approach
I would be surprised if Leicester came and dominated. We've already played them twice this season and had pretty comfortable games with easy victories. We scored 8 goals and conceded just 2 in those two matches.
This gives us an indication of what this game could be like and I would be a little worried if it wasn't.
Then again, this is United so anything is possible 🤷.
United were decent in the opening minutes against Palace but that faded away pretty quickly yet in those 15 minutes, United did play some good stuff. We looked more fluid and had a chemistry that we were lacking when Zirkzee or Hojlund were in the team. Mainoo did a good job as a false 9 too.
The manager will want to see more of this from his team rather than just 15 minutes as should we play like those initial minutes, there's no reason why we can't win.
But again, he would be frustrated with the goals conceded as it came from shocking defending. Another cross into the box from a free-kick was won by Palace and resulted in that opening goal.
The second was a lack of understanding from Yoro and Maguire as they were caught trying to playing Palace offside. Maguire kept them on and in the end, Mateta had a simple finish for 2-0.
Leicester will be looking for this on the break as they do have a lot of quick players with Jamie Vardy being chief among them. We have to be very careful of our defensive line.
Then it's about going forward.
United have been very hit and miss up front due to several reasons one of which is lack of chances and also strikers being poor.
Neither of Zirkzee nor Hojlund have scored since, well, can't even remember that's how long it's been.
However, should he play a more attacking team like the one I predicted it would give us something extra in that final third. Amad, Bruno, Garnacho and Mainoo along with a striker means that United will have five attackers giving us more of a balanced side rather than one that is more defensive.
We fail to make too many chances in that final third and I believe that this could be because of the lack of attackers. Mazraoui and Dalot on the flanks also provide nothing going forward which hampers us even more.
Amad's best position is on the right wing and is where he causes most damage. We look a more threatening outfit whenever he's out there. We've only had the 1 goal and/or assist from either of Dalot or Mazraoui whenever they've played as the wing-backs for Amorim.
That came against FCSB in the penultimate game of the Europe League league phase as Dalot scored a tap-in.
Garnacho also gives us that spontaneity while we have the guile and quick feet of Mainoo on top of the most creative player Bruno behind them. We saw what they along with Amad did against FCSB as in that second half, United were all over our Romanian opponents.
We need something like that for the whole game and Leicester tonight could give us that opportunity.
Form
United had that amazing triumph over Arsenal in the first match with that dramatic shootout win. That gave us a massive uplift which didn't actually do much thereafter because we proceeded to be shite.
But we did get the justice we deserved after the referee who I won't name (Andy Madley) was pretty much Arsenal's 12th man.
Yet still we won 😁.
League form does go out the window as this is a cup competition and is a good leveler.
Don't put it past Leicester to come and do a job at Old Trafford especially with Ruud as their manager.
Leicester
Speaking of the Foxes, they are really struggling. They did sack their manager as well and brought in Ruud not long after his Man Utd beat Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup!
Funny how things turned out.
Ruud took over at Leicester on November 29th after his caretaker role at United. In his time at the helm, the former United player and caretaker manager has managed 12 games for the Foxes but has won just three, drawing one and losing the other eight.
Not the best record at all.
However, one of those three victories was in the first match of this competition as they hammered QPR 6-2 at the King Power. That could give them some confidence heading into this one.
On the flip side, there's been rumors about Leicester potentially sacking Ruud given the poor form and maybe being knocked out of this competition could be the final straw?
We'll have to wait and see.
The Foxes will visit Old Trafford for the third time this season. It hasn't been a happy hunting ground for them as they've been beaten comfortably 3-0 in the league and that 5-2 in the Carabao Cup with Ruud as United's manager.
He'll be hoping for something similar this time round but for Leicester of course as he could do with a win, just as us.
Prediction
With that being said, I do think Amorim's team will have more than enough to get the job done. 3-1 is what I'm going for and that would be a good result.
More than the win though, I think we need to see a performance from the team. Even recent victories have not seen brilliant performances by United as we've just about managed to get over the line.
Amorim has been saying how displays from his side hasn't been good enough so he will want to be seeing something more from his players tonight.
Let's hope we do.
Background player image: Alejandro Garnacho | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)