Man United boss Erik ten Hag focuses on winning FA Cup, not stopping Man City
LONDON – The stage is set for an epic clash between Manchester United and Manchester City in the first-ever FA Cup final between the city's arch-rivals. Both teams are vying for glory in a match that holds significant importance for each club.
For Manchester City, a victory in the FA Cup would put them in contention to replicate Manchester United's historic treble of 1999, which saw them clinch the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles in a single season.
On the other hand, United has the opportunity to secure a domestic Cup double by adding the FA Cup to the League Cup they won earlier this year. This would be an unprecedented achievement for the club.
Under the guidance of Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, who has had an impressive debut season, United aims to claim another trophy. However, their desire to prevent City from completing a treble, with the potential to be sealed against Inter Milan in the Champions League final, adds to their motivation.
Despite the significance of the rivalry and the stakes at hand, Ten Hag emphasizes that his team should focus solely on their own performance.
"It is a good test on Saturday. We want to win a Cup, it's not about stopping them, it's about us winning the Cup," he said.
"We deserve that opportunity to be in a Cup final and face Man City. We fought so hard for it and progressed so well to reach the FA Cup final. I think City is doing a very good job. They play excellent football and deserve recognition."
"But we look to ourselves, and you have to assess your club's progress. We have made strides over the past season, and we are moving in the right direction. As I said last year, we want to restore Man United, but we have a way to go."
In recent years, Manchester City has dominated English football, diminishing United's bragging rights within the city. However, in terms of FA Cup wins, United still holds a significant lead, seeking their 13th trophy while City aims for their seventh.
United has a favorable record in FA Cup meetings against City, winning five of their last six encounters. Nevertheless, the most recent victory occurred in January 2012.
Ten Hag's squad enters their 21st FA Cup final, which equals Arsenal's record, with confidence. They have secured a Champions League spot for next season by winning their last four Premier League matches.
Reflecting on the upcoming final, the United boss expressed his excitement about playing at Wembley Stadium, calling it "probably the best stadium in the world."
However, United will have to cope without Anthony Martial, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury, while Antony is unlikely to recover from an ankle issue.
Manchester City, driven by the pursuit of sporting immortality, enters the final as the favorites. Nonetheless, Pep Guardiola's side will be wary of United, having suffered a 2-1 defeat to them in January, which served as revenge for a 6-3 thrashing earlier in the season.
United's former treble-winning defender, Gary Neville, has urged his former team to rise to the occasion. He stated in an interview with The Times of London, "Do I want City to win the treble? No! No! No! I don't. Nobody wants City to win the treble if you're a Manchester United fan."
He added, "For me, (Guardiola) would be a worthy companion to Sir Alex (Ferguson), and his players would be worthy companions of our Manchester United treble team (if they win). Fingers crossed they lose though!"
With tens of thousands of fans expected to travel to the capital for the match and potential rail strikes,
0 Comments