Who wins? All details as United, City clash in 2nd FA Cup final in a row
The FA Cup final will host a Manchester derby for the second consecutive year at Wembley. Manchester United need to win to guarantee themselves a spot in Europe the next season, while the Manchester City is hungry for a double for the second time in two years.
This will be the first time in FA Cup history that the final will be played by the same two teams for two consecutive years.
The Cityzens were victorious in the 2022/23 final thanks to two goals from İlkay Gündoğan which also helped Pep’s men to complete a treble. Even though Gündoğan has left, City is still going strong a year later and hopes to win a double this year.
With a 3-1 victory over West Ham on the final day of the Premier League, the Citizens secured their record-breaking fourth consecutive EPL title. They now aim to make history by winning the FA Cup in back-to-back seasons.
Having won 29 and drawn 6 of their past 35 games in all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s club has been all but untouchable. This remarkable run has surpassed the record previously held by their rivals and current opponents, Manchester United, and is the longest by an English team in the Premier League era and they will try and continue their unbeaten run at Wembley.
The FA Cup trophy is Manchester United’s only chance to guarantee European football next season. They defeated Brighton on the final day of the season but that wasn’t enough as they finished 8th on the EPL table with a goal difference of minus one – the club’s worst finish in the Premier League era.
Erik ten Hag‘s future as coach may be significantly impacted by this game. Even in the event of a loss, a valiant performance might be sufficient to guarantee him at least one more season at Old Trafford.
City could beat their neighbours three times in the same season for the first time since 1969/70. Man Utd have won just one of their last seven matches with Man City and lost the other six.
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MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS
Manchester City will travel to Wembley with a fully fit squad except for Ederson but that should not pose a problem for the team as Pep Guardiola would have chosen Stefan Ortega over the his first choice Brazilian even if he was fit.
Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake, will try and force their way back to the starting eleven after they were dropped in the match against West Ham last weekend.
Ten Hag might reintroduce Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the starting defensive duo at Wembley as they returned for United on the last weekend of the league.
Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, and Mason Mount have all resumed training, but it’s unlikely that they will play any role in the Final. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw both lost their battle with time to be fit for the derby.
MANCHESTER CITY PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP:
Ortega, Gvardiol, Akanji, Dias, Walker, Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, Silva, Doku, Haaland
MANCHESTER UNITED PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP:
Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Diallo, Garnacho, McTominay, Fernandes
MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED TIME AND VENUE
Kick-off date is Saturday 25th May, 2024
Kick-off time is 3pm WAT
Venue: Wembley stadium, London
Referee will be Andrew Madley
Video assistant referee (VAR) will be Micheal Oliver
MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED PREDICTION
According to Opta supercomputer, Manchester City are the overwhelming favourites for FA Cup glory 68% chance. But apart from that, how can anyone sensibly back an inconsistent Ten Hag Manchester United side against a Pep Guardiola red-hot Manchester City team in a final?
Though I’m sure Ten Hag’s team will give it their all because this is a derby and anything can happen when bragging rights are at stake however, City has really had United’s number lately so It’s hard to imagine Ten Hag’s team winning again at Wembley.
Prediction: 2:1 in favour of the blue side of Manchester.
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