Manchester United vs Manchester City: FA Cup Final Preview

Manchester United will have the chance to avenge their defeat against Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final when both teams meet again in this year’s showpiece final. The Red Devils know a win would secure them European football next season after finishing outside the qualification places during their league campaign. At the same time, our neighbours are aiming to do the double, having already secured the Premier League title on the season’s final day.

It is the first time in the history of the FA Cup that the same two sides will compete in the final for two consecutive seasons. United lost out last year 2-1 from an Ilkay Gundogan double that saw City go on to secure their historic treble. Winning the FA Cup for United would see us enter the Europa League for next season. Our league campaign has been a disappointment having finished in 8th place with a negative goal difference which has placed enormous pressure on the future of Erik Ten Hag and it remains to be seen if he will still be in charge for next season.

Our FA Cup run began away at Wigan Athletic as goals from Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot secured our passage into the next round. It was a much trickier affair for the fourth round as United were pegged back twice by Newport County but ultimately came through with a 4-2 victory. We left it late when a Casemiro header in the 89th minute to come away with a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest in the fifth round.

The quarter-finals saw the most dramatic game of the competition as United mounted a comeback against their fierce rivals Liverpool equalising in the 87th minute through Antony to force the game into extra time. With Liverpool then going ahead followed by Marcus Rashford’s equaliser, it was Amad Diallo who then scored a stoppage-time winner that saw the Old Trafford faithful erupt into jubilant celebrations.

The semi-finals looked set to be very comfortable for the Red Devils but Coventry had other ideas. Having been 3-0 up by the 60th minute, United squandered this lead and was forced into extra time and then penalties which then came through 4-2 to advance to the final. The players and the fans were almost too embarrassed to celebrate after witnessing that performance.

Form goes out when it comes to the Manchester derby and United are going in as underdogs. It means that those players can play without any fear and go out to prove people wrong against an expectant City win. Rumours have abound today that Ten Hag will be sacked whether we win the FA Cup or not with the club refusing to make any comment. It has the hallmarks of eight years ago when Louis Van Gaal was let go after beating Crystal Palace in the 2016 final. If it to be the case that Ten Hag leaves, you would hope those players will give everything to send him off in the best way possible by winning at Wembley.

Manchester United Team News

For United, Erik Ten Hag has confirmed that Harry Maguire will miss the final through injury. Both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also set to miss out. Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount and Anthony Martial have taken part in training this week and could all be in line to return to the match day squad.

Raphael Varane recovered from his injury to feature in the second half against Brighton last weekend. He will be hoping to feature at Wembley in what is his final game for the club before he leaves in the summer. It remains to be seen whether the Frenchman makes the starting eleven or has to settle for a place on the bench. This could see Casemiro deployed in the centre back role alongside either Jonny Evans or Lisandro Martinez, who has just returned from injury himself and had started against Brighton.

Hojlund has come off the bench in the last two games to score and will be pushing for a start up front replacing Scott McTominay with Bruno Fernandes moving back into the number 10 role. Marcus Rashford who did not make the Euro 2024 squad this week will competing against Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho for a place on either wing.

Manchester United Possible Lineup

Onana;

Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot

Casemiro, Mainoo,

Fernandes, Diallo, Garnacho

Hojlund.

Opposition Preview

Manchester City could complete the league and cup double for a third time something that has only been done by Manchester United and Arsenal previously. Arsenal was the last team to win back-to-back FA Cups. It was this time last year that the Citizens were recording their treble-winning season with many records broken along the way. However, this season saw them knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-finals stage after losing on penalties to Real Madrid.

In the Premier League, Guardiola’s men were pushed to the final day by Arsenal but had overcome West Ham by 3-1 to secure their fourth title in a row, the first by a team in the top flight. Phil Foden had scored within the first 18 minutes before Mohammed Kudus spectacular bicycle kick saw West Ham pull one goal back. Rhodri’s long-range effort in the second half sealed the win.

Their FA Cup run to the final has seen them overcome Huddersfield Town comfortably in the third round, though it was much closer in the fourth round when beat Tottenham 1-0. Luton Town was no match for City in the fifth round before winning against Newcastle United in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, it was a game that City had to work hard to come through 1-0 victory against Chelsea to reach the final for the second consecutive season.

Manchester City Team News

The only injury for Manchester City is the goalkeeper Ederson who has suffered a fractured eye socket in the win against Tottenham. Stefan Ortega will deputise though and he would have expected to be in the starting eleven having played in City’s previous five FA Cup games before they reached the final.

Nathan Ake and John Stones will make their case to return to defence. However, it is likely to be back four consisting of Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Diaz, and Josko Gvardiol. They will be supported by midfielder Rhodri. Guardiola will have to decide whether to bring back Mateo Kovacic to partner Rodri in the midfield. He might instead go with an extra attacker like in the West Ham game with Jeremy Doku coming in on the left wing.

Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are expected to be in the final third with Erling Haaland up top. He is just one goal behind Ellis Simms and Sammie Szmodics (both six) in the race for the FA Cup Golden Boot.

Form Guide

Manchester United FA Cup form: WWWWW

Manchester United (all competitions): DLLWW

Manchester City FA Cup form: WWWWW

Manchester City form (all competitions): WWWWW

Prediction

Back-to-back wins in the final two league games have given United a morale boost heading into the final and there should be the extra motivation to beat our local rivals and avenge last year’s final defeat. It is going to take a mammoth effort to stop the juggernaut that is Manchester City. In a season where United have hit many lows during the campaign, there have been a odd high or two. Hopefully, we can deliver another high at Wembley by winning the FA Cup.

Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City