Gary Neville has been discussing the FA Cup final and explained that two Manchester United players must start the game.
Manchester United are now closing in on a huge FA Cup final against Manchester City, in a game which feels like it has more than just silverware on the line.
The final at Wembley represents so much more for United, with players playing for their future along with the manager, Erik ten Hag.
It also presents an opportunity to right the wrongs from the campaign which is 90 minutes from ending. It’s a game in which United must give absolutely everything.
Now, Gary Neville has shared which two players he wants to see in the starting line-up on Sunday.
Gary Neville wants Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund to start vs Man City
Speaking about the final on this week’s edition of the Stick to Football podcast, Neville explained that two players can harm Man City, and they must be starting.
“Is there a way of getting Bruno [Fernandes], [Scott] McTominay, [Kobbie] Mainoo and [Sofyan] Amrabat into the same midfield somehow?”, Neville pondered before explaining that he wants two forwards to start.
“Then having like a [Marcus] Rashford and a [Rasmus] Hojlund just literally, cause there’s no doubt Rashford and Hojlund can cause Man City problems in moments in games, they can.
“In those two channels, I would want Hojlund and I would want [Rashford].
“You’ve just got to hope Rashford and Hojlund, split strikers of some kind”.
Manchester United could see success with a system change
Heading into the game, nobody knows how United will set up, with Ten Hag sure to have a plan, but the one suggested by Neville could be spot on.
A narrow midfield diamond, geared primarily at avoiding conceding a multitude of shots against City, something which could be unsurvivable given how good some of their players are.
But with a diamond which may have Amrabat or Casemiro at the base, with Mainoo and McTominay slightly ahead as 8’s and then Bruno as the number 10.
This would be excellent from a defensive point of view, and also potentially an offensive way with Bruno having freedom and McTominay and Mainoo licensed to roam forward on the break.
Ahead of the midfield, a classic front two of Rashford and Hojlund could be dynamite on the counter-attack.
The only problem with this is that Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho would be hard done by to miss out, but it’s about winning, and playing how United have played recently doesn’t bode well.