Gary Neville has claimed that two Manchester United players could cause Manchester City problems in the FA Cup final.
With Pep Guardiola’s side beating United 6-1 over the two games they have played against them in the Premier League, Saturday’s contest could be one-sided.
But stranger things have happened in cup finals, such as when Wigan Athletic beat City 1-0 in the FA Cup final in 2013.
Neville says two Man United players could trouble Man City
The gap between the Manchester clubs in terms of quality is not as massive.
But interestingly, in the 2012/2013 season, Wigan finished 32 points behind the Sky Blues. This campaign, United finished 31 points behind City — emphasising the incredible gulf in class between the two teams.
Gary Neville named Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund as two threats for Manchester United against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Neville said on The Overlap’s Stick To Football: “Is there a way of getting Bruno [Fernandes], [Scott] McTominay, [Kobbie] Mainoo and [Sofyan] Amrabat into the same midfield somehow? And then having [Marcus] Rashford and [Rasmus] Hojlund. There’s no doubt Rashford and Hojlund can cause Man City problems in moments in games, they can.”
Manchester City will have to be wary of the pair in the FA Cup final
In our view, as Gary Neville claimed, the Manchester United duo of Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford could cause problems for Manchester City.
Hojlund had a difficult first season in England but he has the talent to become a top player, as exemplified by his remarkable solo goal against Brighton on the weekend.
Rashford has a promising goalscoring record against City, scoring six goals in 20 games across all competitions.
The pace and goalscoring ability that Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund have could help Manchester United trouble Manchester City on the counter.
In recent seasons, whenever United have beaten City, it is due to their threat on the break.
But simultaneously, Manchester City did shut down the threat of both players in their 3-0 win against them at Old Trafford this season.
In addition, even if the likes of Hojlund and Rashford cause City problems, the Premier League winners have their own top attackers who United will have to be wary of.