- Man United head into the FA Cup final as clear underdogs against Man City
- Guardiola’s earned a 2-1 victory over Man United in last year’s final at Wembley
- IAN LADYMAN: The Premier League title race went to the wire, it is not boring compared to other European leagues! – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Roy Keane has insisted Manchester United must ‘put on a performance’ in the FA Cup final despite the Red Devils heading into the match as clear underdogs against rivals Man City.
Wembley will host a Manchester derby for the second successive season in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Man City will head into the match on a high after clinching a record fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola‘s side were last beaten in 90 minutes by Aston Villa back in December, although they were knocked out of the Champions League on penalties by Real Madrid.
Man United head into the match after recording their lowest Premier League finish, with Erik ten Hag‘s side ending eighth in the table despite winning their final two matches.
Manchester United will head into the FA Cup final as clear underdogs against rivals Man City
Former Man United captain Roy Keane insists the Red Devils must put on a performance
Erik ten Hag’s side endured a torrid season and finished eighth in the Premier League
Former Man United captain Keane admitted Man City are favourites to win the final, but expressed hope his former side could produce a performance on the day.
‘You [Gary Neville] are saying that you’ll be watching the FA Cup Final behind the sofa,’ said Keane on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘That’s a sad state of affairs, if you feel you can’t watch Manchester United in a cup final – there’s always that hope that they will turn up and produce some sort of performance.
‘I look at this Manchester City game over the past few weeks – are they favourites? Of course, but you’ve still got to believe. You have to have some belief in United and that they can turn up at Wembley and produce a performance.’
Man United have produced some dismal performances at times this season, including being thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace earlier this month.
Fans will be hoping Ten Hag’s side can reproduce the kind of performance that saw them earn a memorable 4-3 victory after extra-time against Liverpool on route to Wembley.
Keane insisted that the team need to turn up on the day against Man City, claiming that the squad last year had appeared happy to have reached the final.
‘The noise coming out from Manchester United last year after they lost the final was that they were almost patting themselves on the back for getting to the final.
Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest FA Cup final goal netting 12 seconds into last year’s final
Man City beat Man United 2-1 in last year’s final on route to completing a famous Treble
‘Cut that c**p out – you have to turn up and put in a performance.
‘Don’t go down after 15 seconds – give yourself a bit of a chance. The game was over after that – City toyed with them, took their eye off for a little bit and gave them a little bit of encouragement.’
Man United were beaten 2-1 at Wembley last year, falling a goal down to an Ilkay Gundogan strike after 12 seconds – the fastest ever scored in the FA Cup final.
Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot to leave the scores level at half-time.
Gundogan’s second goal, scored in the second half, proved to be the winner as Man City won a second trophy of an eventual Treble.
Man United need to win the FA Cup on Saturday to secure Europa League qualification, while a defeat would see the Red Devils miss out on Europe altogether next season.
Roy Keane was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet
