GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: The two sides met in consecutive FA Cup finals in 2022/23 and 2023/24 – the first time since 1885 that the same two clubs have met in consecutive FA Cup finals.
And while his first opportunity at vindicating the Jim Ratcliffe-led hierarchy’s decision comes under the composed facade of what many circles claim to be a ‘glorified pre-season friendly’, neither side of Manchester will want to lose their bragging rights to their fiercest rivals, spurring on an otherwise overlooked fixture.
But such is the way either side have navigated their pre-season tours so far, the first question on the tip of everyone’s tongues is how both managers will set up their teams. Usually, the team news that surfaces around an hour before kick-off will give a good indication of how they intend to start the Premier League campaign. But with Pep Guardiola being infamously known for his roulette selection process, and Ten Hag being forced into a reshuffle following an injury crisis, working out how each starting eleven will look next week is a tall order.
Injuries to Rasmus Hojlund, Antony, Marcus Rashford, and £52million signing Leny Yoro have only complicated matters for Manchester United, exacerbating the club’s precarious transition phase after having already given Ten Hag the green light to stay onboard at the club.
However, while it might make the pre-season litmus test against their city neighbours that much more difficult, it does, on the upside, make the Dutchman’s selection process fractionally more straightforward. In defence, it is expected that United will go with a more old-fashioned setup, with Andre Onana staying between the sticks, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire replacing those injured in the heart of the back-line, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Amass being rewarded for their steady form on the flanks.
Luckily, midfield picks itself. With no major injury blows in this area of the pitch, ten Hag will most likely opt to go full-strength in the middle of the park, with Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Mason Mount coming in. The only downside is a lack of Kobbie Mainoo, who is expected to get a little extra recovery time following England’s Euro 2024 final loss against Spain.
In attack, Amad Diallo should almost definitely retain his starting position on the right wing, with three games during pre-season seeing him notch a goal contribution in each, and thus amplifying the volume of those who have demanded him to get more opportunities next season. Elsewhere, Joshua Zirkzee is expected to be thrown into the deep end with his competitive debut after injuries to Hojlund and Rashford, while Jadon Sancho will hope to prove he can revive his Old Trafford residency.
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