Man City vs Manchester United LIVE: FA Cup final team news and latest build-up from Wembley
FA Cup final LIVE! Man City vs Manchester United
Even before this week’s last preparations for the FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag long realised he had to do something different. Managers like the Dutch coach and Pep Guardiola usually avoid referencing media narratives, in order to ensure the players stay focused on “the process”. Ten Hag knew that was impossible in this case, so it’s better to use it as motivation. It might even be all the more necessary given his Manchester United side had been flagging.
Going right back to the semi-final victory over Brighton, though, Ten Hag knew it was pointless to talk down the idea of stopping City doing a treble. He was well aware it means everything to the fans, so he is insistent his team will play with “everything”.
That is a message that has repeatedly been rammed home in the last week. United go into this with the sort of emotional intensity that many recall from Jose Mourinho’s better moments, but that can still go one of two ways.
City themselves would know that too well, from their own experiences of such fixtures before the 2008 takeover.
It shows how the course of history has gone a different way than many would ever have anticipated – not least Sir Alex Ferguson – as those 142 years of rivalry see a first-ever Manchester derby in an FA Cup final. For most of the living memory of that, United were so superior to City they didn’t have to even concern themselves with their neighbours. They were just fun to further beat down, especially en route to grander feats. The path to their domestic double, in 1995-96, involved a typical comeback win over City.
Far more meaningful history weighs over this match.
FA Cup final preview, by Miguel Delaney
Manchester United are obsessed with stopping Man City – their history depends on it
As Manchester City chase the treble and a symbolic victory in the FA Cup final, United have never been more motivated to preserve their greatest success
FA Cup final LIVE! Man City vs Manchester United
Predicted line-ups
Manchester City: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Stones, Rodri, Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland
Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Sancho, Garnacho, Rashford
FA Cup final LIVE! Man City vs Manchester United
Manchester United team news: Antony is “unlikely” to be fit for the final due to an ankle injury and is set to join Anthony Martial, Marcel Sabitzer and Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines. Other than squad backups Donny van de Beek and Tom Heaton, everyone else is available.
FA Cup final LIVE! Man City vs Manchester United
Man City team news: Pep Guardiola eased concerns over the fitness of a number of key Manchester City players ahead of the FA Cup final. Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji all missed the champions’ final Premier League game of the season at Brentford last week but those players have all since returned to training and are expected to come back into contention for both the Wembley showpiece.
Guardiola has also confirmed second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start at Wembley, in keeping with his usual policy for domestic cup fixtures.
FA Cup final LIVE! Man City vs Manchester United
Odds
City 11/21
Draw 39/10
United 11/2
Prediction
Pep Guardiola’s team are naturally superior to Erik ten Hag’s across the board, but stopping a rival emulate your own history is a powerful motivator. Perhaps leg No.2 of the treble bid is the one which won’t quite go City’s way. Man City 1-2 Man United.
FA Cup final LIVE! Man City vs Manchester United
When is the FA Cup final and what time does it kick off?
The 2022/23 FA Cup final takes place at Wembley on Saturday 3 June 2023. Kick-off is at 3pm.
Where can I watch it?
The FA Cup final is free-to-air, so viewers can watch on BBC 1, ITV 1 and STV. For those wishing to stream the match it will be visible on the BBC Sport website, the BBC iPlayer, ITVX and STV Player.
Good afternoon
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley.
In the first ever FA Cup final played between the Manchester clubs, talk of the “treble” has dominated the build-up to the showpiece occasion. City are attempting to equal United’s treble-winning campaign of 1999 this season, with the Premier League title secured and the Champions League final to come next week. Such an achievement would be a landmark moment for the Enlgish game, as well as in the rivalry between the teams.
United therefore have all the motivation they need as they look to deny City. Erik ten Hag’s side have added the Carabao Cup to their trophy collection this season but Pep Guardiola’s team have looked unstoppable in recent weeks, with striker Erling Haaland set to feature in the FA Cup final for the first time after his record-breaking 36-goal Premier League campaign. There are storylines everywhere you look as Wembley gets ready to host an unmissable final.
Follow live build-up to the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United throughout the day.
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