Manchester United and Manchester City are poised to lock horns this weekend in the FA Cup final for a second consecutive season.
After their Premier League triumph, which saw them make history by becoming the first team to win the EPL for a fourth consecutive season, as per ESPN, Pep Guardiola’s side aim to extend their record breaking tentacles to achieving yet another incredible feat. Should they win in this weekend’s derby showdown at Wembley, the Cityzens would become the first team to win the FA Cup and Premier League in back-to-back seasons.
They face familiar foes, and last season’s FA Cup final opponent, Manchester United , hoping to repeat last year’s triumph which saw them beat the Red Devils 2-1 to lift the FA Cup trophy. With City’s recent successes, they go into this game as favourites, hoping the numbers count in their favour.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are going into this crucial game as underdogs, hoping to put an end to recent run of unfavourable head-to-head results that has seen the clash seem more like a walk in the park for the Cityzens rather than an actual contest betweeen two arch-rivals.
With winning the FA Cup being their only shot at playing European football next season, Erik Ten Hag’s side will be looking leave it all on the field when dey face their bitter rivals this weekend. However, beating City poses to be a tough nut to crack, one which requires a tactical matserclass to achieve.
Sports Buddy in this article looks at 5 things that Manchester United must do to defeat the Cityzens to win the FA Cup this weekend.
How can United beat City in this weekend’s FA Cup final?
Exploit City’s high defensive line with pace and direct play
In order to compress space and trap opponents, Manchester City often plays with a high defensive line, pressing its defenders in close proximity to the halfway line. By putting straight balls over the top for their quick forwards like Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund,
Manchester United may take advantage of this.
Bruno Fernandes’ inventiveness in locating those who are behind may be very important. It presents a hazardous position if they can get their pacy attackers to run at the City defense one-on-one.
Close to zero margin for error
Manchester City possesses one of the deadliest attacks, which would purnish an opponent for even the slightest errors. United will need to stay laser-focused throughout the game as any switch off from them could be costly.
Pep Guardiola’s side possess talented players like Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Rodri, in midfield who have the capacity to find spaces, slinging passes into the final third.
While facing City’s attacking force is a daunting task in itself, it will be unwise to hand them extra ammu ition by giving away cheap passes in vulnerable areas.
Take your chances
City are no doubt masters at keeping the ball and only few teams have bettered them in this aspeect since Guardiola took charge of the team. Going into this game, it is almost certain that City will have larger posession of the ball.
However, it is a well-esablished truth in football that possession alone does not win you matches but how effectively you utilize it.
Manchester United on the other hand will also have their moments. They will need to be highly clinical when they get their opportunities in this game, as City is not a team that lets their opponents create many chances against them. Hence, the need to make good use of the few chances they get.
Solid Defense
Manchester need to be on a 100 defensively to limit a Manchester City that boasts of one of the best attack with Erling Haaland, Bernado Silva and Jérémy Doku or Jack Grealish up front.
United needs to be defensively solid throughout the match, minimizing City’s chances and frustrating their attacking flow.
All players will need to track back to help the defense to achieve that defensive compactness that would limit City’s attacking threat.
Set-Piece Threat
For all of City’s attacking prowess, they can sometimes be vulnerable in defense, especially in set-piece situations. Manchester United possess quite a number of players who are good in the air. The Red Devils need to make good use of every setpiece opportunity they get.
