Man City vs Man United LIVE: FA Cup final goals, score and latest updates as Marcus Rashford starts at Wembley


Pep Guardiola offers advice to journalist after ‘offensive’ question

Manchester City face rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final today with a double-double on the line at Wembley Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side, a week on from their fourth successive Premier League title, face a United side low on confidence after a turbulent season under Erik ten Hag.

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The Dutchman’s future is under intense speculation, with a summer of change anticipated at Old Trafford, but an unlikely victory over the champions could prove vital to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team to persevere with him for next season.

“I am just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first win the game on Saturday and then we are in the project,” Ten Hag said when quizzed on his future. “Keep going in the project. I came here to win trophies and Saturday is another opportunity.”

Follow all the build-up, team news and updates from Wembley Stadium before kick-off below:

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4’ – City 0-0 United

High-tempo start and plenty of noise inside Wembley!

City naturally dominating possession early on and United clogging up the centre, forcing City back or wide so far.

De Bruyne and Silva both coming dep early on to try and get on the ball.

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 15:07

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1’ – City 0-0 United

We are underway! A first launched ball forward sees Rashford race towards the City box but Walker has the pace to more than match him and recover. An opening-seconds chance for United fans to roar some hope – then City fans roar as they want a penalty! A cross from the left, Haaland is bumped to ground by Martinez – but not enough for a foul.

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 15:03

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Man City vs Man United – FA Cup final LIVE

Gareth Southgate in the stands for a look at a few people today – one or two might yet get cut who play for these sides; one in particular did not make the provisional squad. How United must hope that Rashford has a response to that today.

City – Ortega, Walker, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland

United – Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot, McTominay, Ambrabat, Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 15:00

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Man City vs Man United – FA Cup final LIVE

The national anthem time. We’re just under ten minutes from kick-off – here’s a historical piece on what the FA Cup used to mean.

What the FA Cup final used to mean

The historical and cultural significance of the FA Cup final has never been more important, writes Miguel Delaney, at a time when football’s communal values are under threat

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:53

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Man City vs Man United – FA Cup final LIVE

And Erik ten Hag, asked about his centre-back partnership and his own future:

“We’ll see how ready they are. We’ve struggled a long time at centre-half, five or six players have played there. They miss match fitness but they know the job and have to do the job. They’re experienced, they can do it.

“Nothing about me. It’s not about me, it’s the team. It’s a very important game for the club and we’ve focused on that. We don’t talk about my position. It doesn’t affect my preparations. I focus on a winning team.

“I’m only focusing on lifting the trophy.”

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:50

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Man City vs Man United – FA Cup final LIVE

Roy Keane speaks on Ten Hag’s criticism today of pundits being negative towards Man United:

“A lot of managers don’t like pundits but that’s part of their journey. We’re ex-players and we look at where they are now – he has to take his medicine. But he’s here in a final and he’s got a chance.

“If Man United win today they’ll get plenty of plaudits. You have to hope the players turn up and put in a really good performance.”

Fellow ITV pundit Karen Carney on Haaland:

“If he’s going to get opportunities he’ll take it. His stats are phenomenal (90 in 97 for Man City).United’s centre-backs have to get tight and aggressive.

“They’ve played 20 minutes the other day but this is Manchester City. They might not be up to speed but they are experienced. It’s not ideal when you chop and change centre-backs.”

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:45

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Man City vs Man United – FA Cup final LIVE

Pep Guardiola speaking ahead of kick-off:

“We never played a City-United final before and now we’ve done it two years in a row. The universe wanted it,” he said.

“The mood has been really good the last few days but it’s back to business, we have to reset, the league has nothing to do with the final. The final is one game.

“It was a difficult choice today. Some players I thought could play but at the end it’s tough. All the defenders played really well recently.”

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:39

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Manchester City are the best – but a cloud hangs over Pep Guardiola’s era of dominance

Many point to this as a sign of the Premier League’s supposed competitiveness, but it really just shows how difficult it is to even keep pace with the apparently perpetual champions. City force teams to go the distance only to then go that bit further themselves. That comes from a combination of maybe the greatest manager of all time overseeing a squad and infrastructure as he idealises it, to now go further than anyone has before.

City have become the first team in English history to win four successive league titles and the first with as many as six in seven years. That’s all through returns of points (average 91.1), wins (average 29) and trophies (50 per cent of those available) that are superior to any previous club over a spell so long. It is an unprecedented level of domination, now akin to what has recently been seen in Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga.

There is of course, another number hanging over that, which played into a more potent piece of symbolism on the day. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters was not at Manchester City for their win, and that ensured there were no comments about the competition’s most senior figure again handing another Premier League title trophy to the club it has been investigating for so long.

Miguel Delaney on City’s dominance:

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:35

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Former defender says United should stick with Ten Hag

United head to Wembley very much the underdogs as neighbours City look to complete another Double following their successful Premier League title defence.

Having finished down in eighth place – a lowest ever Premier League finish – and after crashing out of Europe before Christmas, the spotlight is on Ten Hag’s future.

Parker joined United from QPR in the summer of 1991, going on to win two Premier League titles and also the 1994 FA Cup final as part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad.

The 60-year-old feels despite the odds now being stacked against his old club to lift more silverware at Wembley on Saturday, there could just yet be a chink in City’s armour.

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:30

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Pep Guardiola admits he is ‘closer to leaving’ Manchester City after latest Premier League title

The Catalan has one year left on his contract, which was signed in 2022, and suggested he might be willing to discuss an extended deal as he spoke about how he found the motivation to target new achievements.

Guardiola hailed a sixth title in seven seasons as an “crazy” achievement that he would never have thought possible when he arrived after a 3-1 win over West Ham made City champions again.

He stayed at Barcelona for four years and Bayern Munich for three and said he is closer to leaving City than staying, but still galvanised by the chance to make history. City could become the first team in English football history to win back-to-back doubles today when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final and while he believed he had won all there was to win last year, he then found new targets.

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 14:25



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