Premier League champions Manchester City will be locking horns with cross-town rivals Manchester United in the high-stakes FA Cup final clash at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a replay of last year’s final.
Last season, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City won a treble in the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. This time, the Sky Blues are eyeing a domestic double after beating Arsenal to the Premier League title last weekend for the second successive season.
On the contrary, the FA Cup presents an opportunity for Manchester United to salvage what has been a forgettable season at Old Trafford. But not only the silverware a lot more will be at stake for Erik ten Hag, who is fighting to keep hold of his job after recording the club’s worst season in over 30 years. Only a win in the FA Cup final would see them get an entry into European football.
Manchester City vs Manchester United—Team News
Manchester City
Ederson has already been ruled out of the FA Cup final due to a small fracture of his eye socket suffered in the 2-0 away win over Tottenham Hotspur. Man City don’t have any other injury complaints, meaning Pep Guardiola has a fully fit squad to select on Saturday.
Stefan Ortega has deputised well in Ederson’s injury absence in the last two Premier League games and is nailed-on to start in goal. He is expected to be protected by a back four of Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. Walker and Gvardiol will look to stretch Man United as much as possible from full-back positions as well as provide help to centre-backs Dias and Akanji.
Up ahead in midfield, Rodri is an automatic pick. The Spaniard should form the double pivot with Mateo Kovacic, with Kevin de Bruyne trying to exploit the gaps between the fragile Man United defence from the No.10 role. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden must take up the wide roles, hoping to combine well with the midfielders and create chances for centre-forward Erling Haaland.
Manchester United
Manchester United have been royally impacted by injuries during a long, tiring season. They will be without the services of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia for the showpiece event. However, Erik ten Hag has been bolstered by the return of Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial and Mason Mount to team training on Thursday.
Andre Onana is certain to start in between the sticks. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are back fit and may very well walk into the starting XI on Saturday. The two central defenders will be joined by Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the full-backs looking to contributions on both ends of the pitch.
Casemiro has been forced to operate in central defence due to an injury crisis, but with players returning, he should be back in his usual holding midfielder’s role. Sofyan Amrabat appears likely to drop out of the first XI, as Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes remain undisputed starters. Despite performing well in the last couple of starts, Amad Diallo could make way for the fit-again Marcus Rashford. Alejandro Garnacho is expected to be moved to the right flank, with Rasmus Hojlund hoping to make an impression in the FA Cup final after scoring in the last two league games.
Manchester City vs Manchester United—Predicted Lineups
Predicted Manchester City Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic, B. Silva, Foden, De Bruyne; Haaland
Predicted Manchester United Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Rashford, Garnacho, Fernandes; Hojlund
Manchester City vs Manchester United—Key Players
Manchester City—Phil Foden
Phil Foden has enjoyed his best season yet at the Etihad Stadium, netting 19 goals league goals and supplying eight assists as the Sky Blues won a fourth consecutive Premier League title. Recently crowned as the Premier League’s Player of the Season, the England international is in sensational form and has the tools to wreak havoc against the Red Devils.
Manchester United—Bruno Fernandes
There isn’t anywhere to start other than Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder continues to make Man United tick with his leadership, creativity and vision. During his injury absence in a couple of games, Erik ten Hag’s side looked devoid of ideas and energy which speaks volumes of the skipper’s influence on the pitch. If Man United are to stun their neighbours, Fernandes has to produce a top-class display.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Manchester United (Man United beat Man City 5-4 on penalties)
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
