At Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup final will also serve as the first Manchester Derby in the competition’s illustrious history.
Only one of the last 15 head-to-head matches (City: W8, L6) had a level score after 90 minutes.
Only rivals and arch-rivals Manchester United have ever won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in the history of English football, hence defending champions Manchester City come into the game as pre-match favorites.
The Spaniard has urged his team to “disconnect” in the lead-up to such a huge match in the hope that they can refocus after losing their final two league matches of the season (D1, L1). Pep Guardiola’s team breezed their way to a first FA Cup final in four seasons, scoring 17 goals without answering in their five previous matches this season.
However, City boasts a 100% winning record in domestic finals under Guardiola, so they will undoubtedly be optimistic of making a significant advancement in their quest for immortality.
Man United will do anything to prevent their local rivals from surpassing their successes, but in addition to securing bragging rights, it would also net them their second trophy of the year after winning the Carabao Cup.
The Red Devils have never won both domestic cups in the same season, but they enter Wembley with confidence after finishing the Premier League season in the top three for the third time in four years thanks to a run of four straight victories.
After winning 2-1 over Fulham on the final day of the Premier League, manager Erik ten Hag fueled the flames with an emotional post-game statement, but the Dutchman insists this final is “not about stopping Man City, it’s about winning the FA Cup.”
Only Arsenal (14) has done so more frequently than United (12), but only one of those victories has occurred in the past 19 years, so United’s Dutch manager will be eager to rekindle the club’s passion for this illustrious contest.
Erling Haaland, a prolific scorer with 52 goals this season, has been crucial to City’s push for the triple, netting three of them in a 6-3 head-to-head victory at the Etihad Stadium.
All-action midfielder Fred could keep his spot after helping to set up a goal in United’s most recent victory over Fulham because it is anticipated that they will give up the ball for long stretches of time.
