Ten Hag explains FA Cup final line-up

Saturday 03 June 2023 14:47

Erik ten Hag has named his Manchester United side to face Manchester City in today's Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

The Dutchman has made four changes to the side that beat Fulham 2-1 in our final Premier League game of the season six days ago.

Three of those alterations are in defence, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, and Luke Shaw coming in for Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, and Tyrell Malacia respectively. 

Our fourth is in attack, with Alejandro Garnacho being replaced by Christian Eriksen, with the Dane looking set to play in the no.10 role, ahead of Casemiro and Fred, while Bruno Fernandes operates on the right. 

Erik joins us pitchside Video

Erik joins us pitchside

Sporting his cup-final suit, Erik ten Hag joins us by the Wembley pitch for a pre-match chat before today's big game...

Ten Hag believes Fred's capabilities will be key in the middle of the park, telling MUTV: "Midfield is always the key area, but it's not only about that. You will see in the game what we are [aiming] for. 

"But Fred, you know his capacities, he's really good at stopping players winning balls. We will not always have possession. We didn't in the last game against them at Old Trafford as well.

"We had less possession, but we dominated the game by creating more chances, creating more final entries, creating more shots, more shots on target. So that is what we have to look for also in this game."

LINE-UPS

Manchester City XI: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodrigo; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Grealish; Haaland.

Substitutes: Ederson, Phillips, Ake, Laporte, Alvarez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis.

United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Fernandes (C), Eriksen, Sancho, Rashford. 

Substitutes: Butland, Dalot, Maguire, Malacia, McTominay, Elanga, Garnacho, Pellistri, Weghorst. 

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