Updated:
Jun 1, 2023 4:02 pm
We have now reached the climax of the 2022-23 football season, and after clinching their seventh Premier League Title, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City now has their sights on a League and Cup double.
However, standing in their way are the League Cup Champions, Manchester United, and Erik Ten Hag is confident that his side can deliver a knockout blow to the Premier League Champions.
Both sides had a reasonably straightforward road to the Final, except Guardiola’s side is yet to concede a goal in this season’s competition.
It will also be the first time since 2011 that the Final will Kick Off at 3 pm, this is due to the London Metropolitan Police having concerns about the behaviour of both sets of fans, and also the Epsom Derby being another huge event that is taking place on the same day.
“There’s still one game to go. So I’m sure that these players will give everything to beat Manchester City next week.
“They’ll give everything, you [the fans] will give everything and I’m sure we have a really good chance to take the cup back to Old Trafford.”
Ten Hag: Evening Standard
Meanwhile, after celebrating his side’s hat trick of League Titles, Guardiola is hoping for a second League and Cup double, after winning the treble(Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup) in 2019. He also mentioned the health and well-being of his players.
“We have to play who feels better in the final. That’s why it was good today to play with these guys and rest the other ones. hopefully other players can recover.”
Guardiola: Manchester Evening News
Although Guardiola’s side has the advantage of being Premier League Champions, the Red Devils did manage to get the better of them in their last Premier League meeting at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford’s controversial offside goal was enough to complete a 2-1 victory over the Champions in a pulsating game in the Premier League.
However, in their first meeting of the season at the Etihad, it was all City, as they cruised to a 6-3 victory, thanks to an Erling Haaland Hat trick.
It was 1996 when these two sides faced each other in the Fifth round of the FA Cup, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side came out on top with a 2-1 victory, thanks to Lee Sharp’s winner in the 77th minute. There have been no FA Cup meetings between these sides ever since.
Predictions
This is a really tough one to predict, but due to the superior form of City who were on a 25-match unbeaten streak, before the 1-0 defeat at Brentford on the final day of the season. So I’m going for a 2-1 victory for Guardiola’s side, however, it would not be surprising if The Red Devils eke out a victory in a close game, as they have shown in crucial times of the season.
So the stage is set for a mouthwatering contest on Saturday, who will take home the FA Cup?
Send us your thoughts on World in Sport.
