The FA Cup final is one of the most anticipated events in English football, pitting two teams against each other in a battle for one of the oldest and most prestigious trophies in the sport.
Rivals Manchester United and Manchester City will face each other for the second year running hoping to bring home the trophy. Manchester City was victorious in the last outing which led them to achieve the treble. Ironically Manchester United were the only english team to achieve that before and they had the perfect chance to keep that title if they beat City however, it wasn't to be for the red-devils.
FA Cup Final details:
Manchester City vs Manchester United- BBC 1
Sat, 25 May 2024, 3:00 pm
Can Manchester United buckle their current form for a win?
Manchester United have had a whirlwind of a season, enjoying some excellent wins but overall they have underachieved. Last season many believed that Erik Ten Hag (ETH) was the right man for the job as he achieved top 4, won the Carabao Cup and finished in the FA Cup final.
Manchester United looked like they were on the right trajectory and many believed they would push on further after a full summer's recruitment on getting who they wanted. However, this has not been the case as United lie 8th in the Premier League and knocked out of every competition so far apart from the FA Cup.
Manchester United defeated Coventry City in the Semi Finals although this was far from a routine victory. A result that should have led to celebrations actually resounded as a huge relief as they finally beat the Championship team on Penalties.
Before this, United looked so comfortable as Scott McTominay, Maguire and Bruno Fernandes put United in a cruising 3-0 lead. Coventry’s Ellis Simms pulled one back in the 71st minute then United completely collapsed.
Coventry capitalised and shocked the nation as they pulled it back to 3-3 to take the game to extra time. Coventry then scored in the last minute of extra time to cause wild celebrations however, these were cut short as it was disallowed for a marginal offside. Manchester United were left with mixed emotions after the game, they went through to the final but it showed everything that the club is struggling with.
Manchester United’s current form has been extremely alarming. Losing 4-0 to Crystal Palace recently is unacceptable for a club that was dominant in England and Europe for countless years. Fans expect and deserve more, after the humiliating defeat the fans still showed support to the players and manager.
Fans will not be very hopeful of a result if they play how they did against Palace although a final is still anybody’s game and they will hope to cause a shock and lift the trophy. Last year they played very well against a City side that won it all. If Manchester United turn up they can beat anybody on their day so, hope is not all lost.
Can Manchester City repeat the script of last year?
City once again are competing in another final and are strong favourites to bring home the trophy to the blue side of Manchester. Manchester City who are the current FA Cup holders will wish to beat their rivals to a consecutive FA Cup trophy.
Pep Guardiola has been a revelation to English football, delivering an excellent style of football that has dominated the Premier League Winning 5 Premier League titles and are very close to adding a 6th. With only a few games left City sit second in the table however, they have a game in hand over leaders Arsenal with only a point behind. They may not achieve the treble this year but the double is definitely still on the cards which would be an excellent achievement.
With the likes of Haaland, KDB, and Phil Foden they will hope to penetrate United’s defence who are missing a lot of players due to injury. Phill Foden has been in incredible form this season, with his best return in his career. Foden with his mazy runs and incredible agility and balance will cause problems for any defence. The young Englishman will surely have a huge say in the Manchester derby final.
Manchester City faced Chelsea in the semi finals where they also did not have an easy ride. Chelsea played very well and caused City a lot of problems. Portuguese midfielder Benardo Silva slotted in the winner for Manchester City in the 84th minute. City got over the line with a 1-0 victory, they will hope to play better in the final to beat their closest rivals.
Manchester United FA Cup history
Manchester United has a rich history in the FA Cup, having won the trophy on multiple occasions. Here's a brief overview of Manchester United's FA Cup history:
- 1909: Manchester United won their first FA Cup in the 1908-1909 season, defeating Bristol City 1-0 in the final replay after the first match ended in a draw.
- 1948: United won their second FA Cup trophy in 1948, defeating Blackpool 4-2 in the final.
- 1963: The Red Devils won their third FA Cup title in 1963, defeating Leicester City 3-1 in the final.
- 1977: Manchester United clinched their fourth FA Cup trophy in 1977, defeating Liverpool 2-1 in the final.
- 1983: United won their fifth FA Cup title in 1983, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in a replay after the first match ended in a draw.
- 1985: The Red Devils secured their sixth FA Cup trophy in 1985, defeating Everton 1-0 in the final.
- 1990: Manchester United won their seventh FA Cup title in 1990, defeating Crystal Palace 1-0 in a replay after the first match ended in a draw.
- 1994: United clinched their eighth FA Cup trophy in 1994, defeating Chelsea 4-0 in the final.
- 1996: The Red Devils won their ninth FA Cup title in 1996, defeating Liverpool 1-0 in the final.
- 1999: Manchester United secured their tenth FA Cup trophy in 1999, completing a historic treble by defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in the final after winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
- 2004: United won their eleventh FA Cup title in 2004, defeating Millwall 3-0 in the final.
- 2016: The Red Devils clinched their twelfth FA Cup trophy in 2016, defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the final under the management of Louis van Gaal.
This history showcases Manchester United's storied legacy in the FA Cup, with the club lifting the trophy multiple times and contributing to the tournament's rich tapestry of footballing history.
Manchester City FA Cup History
Manchester City also has a notable history in the FA Cup, with several triumphs in the competition. Here's an overview of Manchester City's FA Cup history:
- 1904: Manchester City won their first FA Cup in the 1903-1904 season, defeating Bolton Wanderers 1-0 in the final.
- 1934: City secured their second FA Cup trophy in 1934, defeating Portsmouth 2-1 in the final.
- 1956: Manchester City won their third FA Cup title in 1956, defeating Birmingham City 3-1 in the final.
- 1969: City clinched their fourth FA Cup trophy in 1969, defeating Leicester City 1-0 in the final.
- 2011: Manchester City secured their fifth FA Cup title in 2011, defeating Stoke City 1-0 in the final under the management of Roberto Mancini.
- 2019: City won their sixth FA Cup trophy in 2019, defeating Watford 6-0 in the final under the management of Pep Guardiola. This victory completed a historic domestic treble for the club, as they had already won the Premier League and the EFL Cup earlier in the season.
- 2023: City defeated current finalists Manchester United 2-1 to lift the cup once again and complete the treble that year.
These victories highlight Manchester City's success in the FA Cup over the years, with the club adding to its trophy cabinet and contributing to the tournament's rich history.
Final Prediction
There is no doubt that Manchester City are favourites and for a very good reason. They are usually unstoppable in finals and they always turn up for the big games. They are in better form and have more stability than their neighbours. However, this is the FA Cup anything can happen! Manchester United will hope to bring their A game. If they do they can really challenge the Champions, with the likes of Mainoo, Garnacho and Rashford they can cause real problems for opposition teams. It should be a fierce but brilliant game that will bring entertainment for all fans.
FA Cup Winners Prediction- Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United
