Erik ten Hag is preparing to select his starting line-up for the 2024 FA Cup Final. Who will he select to take on City at Wembley?
Amid rising speculation over his future, Erik ten Hag has a game to focus on. The Manchester United manager is bidding to win another trophy.
Ten Hag’s United side areout for revenge after losing to City last season in the final, and also playing to salvage their own campaign, after a poor season up until now.
Winning the FA Cup could change everything, and turn an unhappy season into a happy one. City are a formidable opponent, however, and Ten Hag has a number of selection decisions to grapple with.
We have broken down the six issues Ten Hag will be having sleepiness nights over heading into the big game at Wembley.
Centre-back starters
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Harry Maguire is injured so Erik ten Hag has to cut six down to two. In reality, it’s not as difficult as it sounds.
Kambwala will be a back-up due to his inexperience. Martinez and Varane are the most likely starters, having both featured against Brighton, the Frenchman coming on as a late substitute.
Varane and Martinez were the pairing who won the League Cup last season. Martinez missed last season’s FA Cup final due to injury.
The worrying issue is they haven’t started a game together since early February, and neither have completed 90 minutes for weeks.
Evans will be called on if neither are ready, while Lindelof has only just won his race to get fit. Moving Casemiro back is the desperation option – but one Ten Hag has shown he would do over Kambwala.
Full-backs
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An easy decision in terms of who plays, seeing as Manchester United only have two fit full-backs, but there is still a puzzle to solve.
Does Dalot line up on the right, and Wan-Bissaka on the left? Or Wan-Bissaka on the right and Dalot on the left? The coaching staff will be studying City’s attackers, and trying to work out which is the better way to line up.
Midfield
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Assuming Casemiro moves into midfield, this becomes a scenario where Ten Hag must select three from six.
Mainoo and Fernandes are almost certain to start, leaving just one spot available. It’s hard to imagine that it wouldn’t be Casemiro who gets the nod due to his experience.
This would be unfortunate for Amrabat who has shown some improvement in recent games, and would likely have started if Casemiro had been needed at centre-back.
McTominay and Eriksen will be left to play the role of impact substitutes if required. The Dane was a starter last year, now losing his place to Mainoo.
Front players
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Four goes into two. Unless Erik ten Hag leaves out a striker, and selects three attackers. This is a difficult one to call.
Amad has been a real find in recent games, emerging as United’s wildcard. He won the game against Newcastle with a goal and assist, staking his claim for the final.
Rashford’s experience gives him a chance, while Garnacho has been a regular starter. We predict it will be Rashford and Garnacho to start and Amad from the bench.
Antony, who missed the final last year, and has played his part during the cup run, is a distant fourth in the discussion.
Hojlund in or out
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- Rasmus Hojlund starts
- Hojlund on the bench and pack the midfield
Rasmus Hojlund is the one striker in with chance of starting. Manchester United desperately wished he was available against City back in March.
The Dane is also the top scorer with 16 goals this season. But two of those have come from the bench in recent games.
He was rested ahead of the final, and in the process, Ten Hag has stumbled across a system which might work, with the team netting five in two matches. An extra midfielder could help against City, while Hojlund could stretch them late in the game, providing United are still in it.
This would be the biggest call of all, to leave Hojlund out. It might be Ten Hag over-thinking it, if he does. But it’s a possibility which is now in the mix.
Which wildcard makes the bench
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The players mentioned earlier in the previous sections won’t all make the XI. Some will be on the bench. But is there a space for a wildcard, a potential matchwinner?
Mason Mount is fit again, he has an assist in a Champions League final. That is experience which could be useful. It would be a big call to leave him out of the squad entirely.
United also have another striker available, Anthony Martial. He has nothing to lose at this point, ahead of his contract expiring. He has also been there and done it at Wembley before – even if we are referring back to a 2016 semi-final.
The big problem is that to include Martial, Ten Hag would have to leave out somebody who is more deserving. Mount could even end up as the fall guy.
Using Martial may depend on whether Hojlund starts, or Ten Hag leaves him out. If the latter, there is less need for another striker on the bench.