Manchester United already have an eye on the FA Cup Final against rivals Manchester City.
The mood on the two sides of Manchester could not be more different heading into the 2024 FA Cup final later this month.
City are on the verge of winning the Premier League, while Manchester United languish down in eighth place, a setback after finishing third last season.
On top of that, City defeated United in last season’s cup final, winning 2-1. They are currently on a winning streak, unbeaten in domestic competition since December.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have won only two matches without the need of a penalty shootout over the past 10 games.
Ederson injury, and why it doesn’t matter
News broke on Thursday afternoon that Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson had suffered a fractured eye-socket, sustained in their win over Tottenham.
BBC Sport reported, on the player City signed for just £35 million in 2017: “Ederson to miss title decider and FA Cup final”, with their headline.
And on the face of it, the injury sounds like a positive for Manchester United. But if you think that, then you haven’t been paying attention.
Ederson has not played a single FA Cup game this season, because Pep Guardiola rotates in Stefan Ortega, his ‘cup goalkeeper’.
So, when it comes to Ederson’s injury, the goalkeeper’s absence will matter little, unless anything was to happen to Ortega.
City won with Ortega in goal last year
Manchester City did not need Ederson to beat Manchester United last year, in a game where the Red Devils’ goalkeeper David de Gea made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Stefan Ortega outclassed De Gea with his kicking, and was solid with his shot-stopping, as he recently demonstrated with a key save in City’s away win at Tottenham.
He is a dependable stand-in, with Pep Guardiola having no qualms over starting him in the big game.
United will line up with first choice stopperAndre Onana in goal, who lost last season’s Champions League final against City, and will be out for revenge.