Manchester United are now preparing for the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City, in a repeat of last year’s Wembley showpiece.
City are expected to win the game, having beaten Manchester United 2-1 last year. Since then, the two teams have moved further apart.
Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United have endured a really poor season, finishing in eighth place in the Premier League. To add to that, City beat United home and away by a combined score of 6-1.
Despite this, Manchester United head to Wembley aiming to win, full of belief. And we are blindly optimistic too. Here is a look at six reasons why Manchester United can pull off a famous win.
Underdog factor
Last year Manchester United took on City being billed as a team on the rise, having even beaten Pep Guardiola’s side at Old Trafford in the previous meeting. That’s partly why the 2-1 defeat hurt so much.
This season, it’s a little different. Manchester United’s status as underdogs is more pronounced, and inescapable.
In some ways, this takes some of the pressure off. Nobody believes in Manchester United. There will be various pundits before the game predicting that City hammer Erik ten Hag’s side.
The underdog factor can galvanise Manchester United. Hearing how nobody backs the team to win, can provide added motivation to the squad, and prove people wrong.
City have just won the league for a fourth successive year, and are on winning streak. Becoming the first team to beat them in domestic competition in 2024 would prove immensely satisfying for United’s players.
Returning players
The past few weeks have not been a true reflection of this Manchester United team. The horrendous 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace certainly wasn’t.
Erik ten Hag has been managing without a left-back pretty much all season, and in recent weeks, he did not have any centre-backs. Add to that, his captain also spent time on the sidelines.
Players are beginning to filter back. Bruno Fernandes has inspired the last two wins. Lisandro Martinez has returned, starting against Brighton, while Raphael Varane also came off the bench. This solves the centre-back dilemma, and frees up Casemiro to return into midfield.
The returns have coincided with two wins. That doesn’t compare to City’s winning streak, but has also seen the players rediscover some confidence and start to build a tiny bit of momentum.
United’s squad is stronger now, fitness-wise, than it has been for weeks, and some players will have also been saving themselves for this fixture.
Big game mentality
Manchester United have players who know how to win the big games. They have done it before, even if not necessarily for the club. See the two World Cup winners in defence.
Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane will have no fear. The last time they lined up at Wembley together, Manchester United won silverware.
Martinez in particular will be fired up, after missing last year’s FA Cup final due to an injury.
Casemiro, like Varane, is a multiple-time Champions League winner, and the pair will be looking to give absolutely everything in the battle against City.
It will be Varane’s final game as a United player as his contract is set to expire. Casemiro could be sold this summer too, and they know they could leave an incredible mark on the club by bowing out on a high, with their greatest victory in a Red Devils shirt.
- READ MORE: Who is Lisandro Martinez? Step inside the life of Manchester United’s tenacious Argentine
Revenge factor
A little extra motivation could come out from the memory of defeat at Wembley last season. Many players in this Manchester United squad experienced the pain of the 2-1 loss a year ago.
Nobody wants to relive that, and the fear of that empty feeling at full-time could drive these Manchester United players on to pull off a result.
The likes of Varane and Casemiro are not used to losing finals. They will be out to make amends for that blemish on their records.
New signing Andre Onana has a score to settle too. He was a losing finalist against City last season in the Champions League final for Inter Milan.
Add in the two league defeats this season, and this Manchester United side will be desperate to get one over on City as a point of personal pride.
Needing it more
Manchester City want to win. Manchester United need to win. There’s a difference. Could that give Erik ten Hag’s side an extra edge?
Erik ten Hag won a trophy and finished in the top four last season. This year United have not won any silverware, yet, and finished a lowly eighth in the league. It’s been awful. But winning the FA Cup would transform the campaign into a memorable one for the right reasons.
United have not won the FA Cup since 2016. Lifting the trophy, against City, would bring untold joy to Red Devils supporters.
Erik ten Hag might need the win to keep his job. While this didn’t help Louis van Gaal eight years ago, it could help the current boss.
And there are a number of players fighting for their futures too, with Ineos casting a watchful eye over the situation. This extra motivation and desperation is something City lack, for all their talent.
The unknown
Manchester United can enter the FA Cup Final with a few fresh ideas. Most notably, exciting youngster Amad, who brings a new X-factor to the team.
Amad has scored his three United goals against AC Milan, Liverpool and Newcastle, and he is not afraid of the big occasion.
Kobbie Mainoo will be playing in his first Wembley final too, while Rasmus Hojlund will be a different animal from the striker City faced last October, now he has discovered his scoring touch. He missed the most recent derby due to injury.
For the first time in a while, United have options in attack. This will keep Pep Guardiola guessing, and Erik ten Hag might have a surprise tactic he is preparing.
With United having so many injuries lately, quickly re-introducing players back into the team, there is not a lot of recent tape City can study, as opposed to if United had a settled, consistent line-up, that he can gameplan for. This might work out to United’s advantage.