FA Cup Final: A Manchester Derby in the capital city

Despite their fierce rivalry, Manchester City and Manchester United have never met in the final of the English FA Cup in the history of the competition. As they say for records that they are meant to be broken, the jinx is finally over as both teams will go head-to-head in the final at Wembley on Saturday in one of the earliest kickoff times in the FA Cup final in recent history.

Both teams will hope to add to their trophies won in the 2022/2023 season. Manchester City are the undisputed champions of the Premier League after beating Arsenal to the title from behind.

Pep Guardiola’s side is still in the race for a treble, and a win against United will secure a brace with the UEFA Champions League final pending.

City will need to beat Inter Milan to complete their treble if they beat Manchester United. Manchester United won the first trophy of the season with the Carabao Cup when they beat Newcastle United 2-0 in February.

They were not anywhere near being contenders for the Premier League title, and their European journey this season ended with a whimper in the Europa League quarter-final against eventual champions Sevilla.

There is a chance for a brace for Erik Ten Hag will be a much-needed boost on his profile in his first season at the club, and he sees the fixture as a special one.

“Of course, on Saturday, we will fight each other. It’s a big game, an FA Cup final – huge. Any game with Manchester United and Manchester City is huge, but when it’s a final, it’s special, of course. It’s really enjoyable to watch Manchester City, but we have to stop them, and we have to make it our game. We have proved we can beat them, but we have to play to our level. If we have belief, anything is possible. We want to win that cup, and we know it’s going to be tough because you play – probably – against the best team in the world at this moment in time.” Ten Hag said.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu