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Sometimes the footballing gods like to mess with things and once again in 2023, it is an incredible twist of fate that stands between Manchester City and footballing immortality.
Only one men’s side in the history of the English game has managed to win the ‘Treble’ – consisting of the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League – that of course was Manchester United back in 1999.
By the same token, only one men’s side has won the English domestic treble – consisting of the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the League Cup – that was Manchester City, under current manager Pep Guardiola – back in 2019.
So how fitting, that with City having already bagged the Premier League once again this season and with a Champions League Final on the horizon later in June, it is their old foes Manchester United that stand against them in the 2023 FA Cup Final.
Whilst City have rightfully received all the plaudits this season, it has been a good campaign for Manchester United too. The League Cup has already been bagged by Erik ten Hag’s men and with Champions League football assured for next season too, the Red Devils must feel like they are back in the mix again.
So, with far more than just pride within Manchester to play for, the FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday June 3rd promises to be an epic encounter – in what incredibly is the first ever meeting between City and United in a FA Cup Final. They last met in the FA Cup was in the third round in 2012, where United beat City 3-2, Rooney scored two and Vincent Kompany was sent off in the twelth minute.
They’ll follow them everywhere 2023 has belonged to Manchester City, like so many of the previous years in English domestic football. Pep Guardiola’s side have wrapped up their 5th Premier League title in 6 seasons, clawing down Arsenal in devastating fashion to win the title with three games to spare.
Whilst it can seem to many onlookers that City are just too good or too efficient in the Premier League, the magnitude of their feat should not be underestimated, taking their overall Premier League title tally to 7 – more than any other club apart from, yep, you guessed it – Manchester United.
City’s imperious form continued away from the league too, as they cruised into the Champions League Final – comfortably beating the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich along the way. Not to mention their excellent run to the final of the FA Cup too, where the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea were seen off with relative ease.
Whilst City’s could be about to secure their status as the best team in Europe, they want to be the best team in the world too.
Taste of trophies for Ten Hag Whilst the accolades have been rightfully pouring in for City this season, Manchester United have enjoyed a renaissance of sorts under new Dutch manager Erik ten Hag.
Of course, thumping defeats by the likes of Liverpool, Brentford and Sevilla have been chastening experiences for the Red Devils but the consistency levels are improving at Old Trafford – something that hasn’t been visible for a fair few seasons.
With a top 4 finish bagged, United also managed to pick up the Carabao Cup earlier this term – their first major trophy since 2017 and an indicator that back in the hunt at the top table of English football is where they should be.
Winning trophies is what ten Hag was brought in to do and whilst one more in the cabinet is lovely, a FA Cup triumph, beating City in the final to boot, could enhance his and his team’s profile even further.
Manchester: Red or Blue? Few FA Cup finals in recent years have attracted the attention of this one and City vs United, with all the fascinating narratives surrounding it – promises to be one for the ages at Wembley.
Going off recent form and league position, it is City who are strong favourites and with so much on the line for the boys in blue, there is a growing feeling that this particular crop of Etihad superstars really does have the bit between its teeth.
Being the relative underdogs however, should suit United – who like to disrupt where possible and their defensive record has been their key asset this term, exemplified by tight victories – such as their controversial win over City at Old Trafford back in February.
Calling this one is no easy task, both sides are sure to be bang up for it from the outset and whilst the train strikes are sure to cause plenty of issues for the travelling fans, the atmosphere inside Wembley should be raucous.
Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that Manchester remains the footballing powerhouse it has been over the past three decades and there will be one side of the great city celebrating long into the night, whilst the other will be looking to block out the sounds of their noisy neighbours.
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