Manchester United stars Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot pose for pictures with fans after arriving at team hotel in London ahead of FA Cup final against Man City
Manchester United stars Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot mingled with fans after flying to London on Friday ahead of the FA Cup final.
Erik ten Hag’s squad had been ferried to Manchester Airport in MPVs with blacked out windows, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Fans claimed the Dutchman was playing mind games with Manchester City by keeping his travelling squad a secret for Saturday’s final at Wembley.
But several players were seen mingling with fans near the team hotel in London before a training session on Friday afternoon.
Ten Hag is sticking to his Wembley blueprint as Manchester United go in search of a hat-trick of wins at the national stadium.
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho poses for a picture with a fan on Friday
Captain Harry Maguire was happy to sign autographs for young fans at the team hotel
United have already beaten Brighton on penalties to set up the first all-Manchester FA Cup final, and also lifted the Carabao Cup in February with victory over Newcastle.
Ten Hag is following the same plan as he tries to derail Manchester City’s bid to complete the Treble.
United will fly into London on Friday and will stay at the same hotel and train at the same facilities beforehand.
As the away team, United will have to wear black shorts with their red shirts and black socks to avoid clashing with City’s first-choice blue and white colours.
But they will have the same dressing-room as the previous two occasions, with United fans once again occupying the east half of Wembley.
Manchester City did spring a surprise by revealing back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start the historic Cup final.
Defender Diogo Dalot was also seen mingling with fans at the team hotel in London
The Man United squad flew to London on Friday ahead of the FA Cup final at Wembley
Reserve goalkeeper Jack Butland looked relaxed as United prepared for Saturday’s derby
Pep Guardiola confirmed that the German – who has started all domestic cup competitions so far this season – will be given the nod ahead of Ederson at Wembley.
Ortega signed on a free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld and impressed Guardiola during his 13 appearances, providing more competition than Zack Steffen before him.
The 30-year-old has kept 10 clean sheets this term, although his inclusion for the final represents a big call by the City boss after Steffen’s high-profile mistakes in last year’s semi-final defeat by Liverpool.
‘He’s going to play,’ Guardiola said. ‘I’ve always like that, even in Barcelona, the keeper who has played FA Cup plays [the final].’
