Haaland and Casemiro battling for possession. Image: AFP
FA Cup final: All you need to know ahead of Man City vs Man United in the 190th Manchester Derby
Man City and Man United will collide for the 190th Manchester Derby, and for the first time in the FA Cup final. Here’s all you need to know.
Haaland and Casemiro battling for possession. Image: AFP
Man United will be determined to end Pep Guardiola’s treble dream when the Red Devils meet Man City at Wembley in the FA Cup final. It’s sure to be a Manchester Derby worth savouring.
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190th Manchester Derby should deliver
United are aiming for a domestic double and City still have designs on a historic treble. The Citizens just claimed the Premier League crown, meaning Pep Guardiola has won 11 league titles in his last 14 seasons as a manager. That’s across stints with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City. He’s also completed league title three-peats with all of them.
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Haaland born to score goals
22-year-old Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland directly contributed to 44 goals (36 goals, 8 assists) in the Premier League season just finished, an all-time 38-game record he now holds jointly alongside Thierry Henry (24 goals, 20 assists in 2002/03). He became the first player in EPL history to hit hat-tricks in three consecutive home matches, and one of those was in the Manchester Derby against United at Etihad Stadium. His major provider of chances has been Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has hit 20+ assists in four separate campaigns since joining the club in 2015.
Haaland would love to add to his ridiculous tally of 52 goals across all competitions against the old enemy. On the red side of the divide, Marcus Rashford has enjoyed a scintillating season of his own, scoring 30 goals across all competitions. 17 of those have been in the Premier League.
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Red Devils with reason for cautious optimism?
Man United won the most recent Manchester Derby, a 2-1 success at Old Trafford after Jack Grealish’s opener. Alejandro Garnacho laid on Marcus Rashford’s winner. In so doing, he became the youngest player ever to claim an assist in a Premier League Manchester Derby.
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Manchester Derby team news
City boss Pep Guardiola wasn’t giving much away in his recent presser, but did say “we have four or five players with niggles, not big injuries, but they are injuries”. Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Rúben Dias are understood to be among those being monitored. That trio have been instrumental in leading City to the Premier League crown, but all three are likely to be fit in time for the showpiece.
There are rumours emerging that Erik Ten Hag will deploy a central midfield trio of Fred, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to crowd out City’s creativity in the engine room. Bruno Fernandes could shift into a wide role with Jadon Sancho on the other flank and Marcus Rashford through the middle. Anthony Martial and Antony are both nursing injuries although the latter might be fit enough for the bench.
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Kickoff from Wembley on Saturday 3rd June is at 4pm.
Meanwhile, hit up James Freemantle for more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game.
Also, follow The South African on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news updates
