Manchester City fans are still nursing their celebratory hangovers, Liverpool and Arsenal fans are still drying their tears and Manchester United fans are still praying for a miracle.
The 2023/2034 Premier League season is over, possibly one of the most exciting seasons in the last 10 years. At both the top and bottom end of the table, hearts were filled will elation, and hearts were broken right up to the final day.
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However; there is still business to be done.
Before Manchester City and Manchester United fans can pack their suitcases and head off for cold beers on a hot beach, there is the small matter of the FA Cup Final this Saturday May 25th at Wembley.
Manchester will take over London on Saturday, when its two football giants go head-to-head again in a repeat of last year’s final.
Difference In Seasons
To say it has been a dismal EPL season for United fans is an understatement. After finishing in 8th position, with some of the worst defensive and goal stats in the history of the club, the end of the season could not come quick enough, for myself included.
To rub salt into what is already a raw wound, bitter rivals Man City lifted the Premier League trophy for a record-breaking fourth time in a row after a truly enthralling season from Pep Guardiola’s squad and he will not want to stop there. An FA Cup win to claim the domestic double over the red side of Manchester would be the icing on the cake.
Whichever way you look at it (and believe me, I have dug deep) anything other than a City win seems unlikely, however; as I keep telling myself, this is a cup game and a derby game whereby history tells us, anything could happen.
In the same fixture last season, I travelled to Wembley and before I even managed to find my seat and put on the complimentary MUFC bucket hat, Manchester City had scored. 32 seconds I believe it was… horrendous.
Manchester United’s Squad Problems
United have been beset by injuries at the back this season and they were left at one stage with just one fit senior centre-back to choose from.
Manager Erik ten Hag has admitted his relief that his ‘nightmare’ centre-back problems have eased significantly on the eve of the FA Cup final.
In the 2-0 win over Brighton at the Amex Stadium, Ten Hag was able to hand Lisandro Martinez his first start since February 4, while Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans both got minutes off the bench. However, it is still unclear whether Harry Maguire will be ready even though he has been called up by his national team, England, for Euro’s training games.
Manchester City’s 2nd string players are stronger in depth, pace, and skill than United’s entire first-team players. They have it in their locker to beat United blindfolded on Saturday.
BUT, will they? Can Manchester United shock the soccer world and steal the illustrious FA Cup trophy from the grasp of blue hands? Stranger things have happened. As fans, we know how unpredictable the sport we love is.
FA Cup Final Odds
Whilst I pray for an outbreak of serious but not life-threatening flu to break out over at the Etihad campus in the next 24 hours, let’s take a look at the FA Cup odds.
Manchester City: -335
Manchester United: +750
Even with City as heavy favorites, my money will be on both teams to score and going for broke with a big 3- 2 United win.
I can but dream.
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