Manchester City and Manchester United are poised to collide in the upcoming FA Cup final at Wembley this weekend, according to reports from STANDARD. This highly anticipated matchup underscores the significance of the historic tournament, with City eyeing an unprecedented consecutive double following their recent Premier League triumph.
Despite swirling rumors about Pep Guardiola’s potential departure, his formidable City side continues to thrive, with Phil Foden emerging as one of the premier attacking midfielders globally this season.
For Manchester United, clinching the FA Cup holds immense importance for securing European qualification, especially after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League. Manager Erik ten Hag finds himself under scrutiny, amidst talks of a major overhaul led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the upcoming summer transfer window. Winning a trophy would provide a significant morale boost for the team.
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The FA Cup final is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Wembley Stadium, with a 3pm BST kickoff, mirroring last year’s final between these fierce rivals. However, this timing poses a challenge for UK broadcaster ITV, which is also airing the rugby Champions Cup final live on the same afternoon.
In terms of team updates, Manchester City appears relatively injury-free, with Stefan Ortega potentially stepping in for Ederson as the goalkeeper for the cup final. Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake are vying for starting berths after being sidelined in the previous match.
On the other hand, Manchester United welcomes back Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in defense, while Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw are working towards regaining fitness. Anthony Martial is unlikely to feature, even if he recuperates from his groin surgery in time.
Ten Hag has recently favored a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay operating as advanced midfielders, flanked by Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho on the wings. Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford provide valuable options from the bench, a strategy likely to be maintained in the final showdown.