2023 F.A. Cup finals: Will Manchester go blue or red?

Manchester United and Manchester City are about to host one of the most exciting F.A. Cup finals in recent history. This is the first time the final hosts a Manchester Derby. If City win, their treble hopes this season will still remain with the Champions League final next week. City would be the second English club in history to win the treble, the other team being their F.A. Cup final opponents, Manchester United. United will want to stop City from equaling their record along with adding another trophy to Erik Ten Hag’s debut season.

With Anthony, Martial, and Martinez ruled out for the final, players like Lindelof, and Sancho will have to step up for United. Ten Hag will probably use Rashford down the middle because Weghorst cannot keep up against any team.

The other question is whether Eriksen or Fred should start. It would benefit United to overload the midfield with players who can run up and down the pitch and put constant pressure on the City midfield and back line. That being said, it would be better if Fred plays because Eriksen has shown that he can’t dominate opponents' midfields, he simply doesn’t have the legs to do it. Casemiro is brilliant but if he doesn’t have a good midfield partner, United will suffer.

For City it’s just a case of whether Pep will risk his star players ahead of the Champions League final. Of course he wants to win the treble but winning the Champions League is a priority over the F.A. Cup. Regardless, I think we will see a full-power City lineup. If the team is winning by a comfortable margin, then Pep will probably go to his bench and take out the likes of Haaland and De Bruyne.

Wembley will be bouncing tomorrow, and both the fans and the players will be up for this clash. This game will not disappoint! The city of Manchester will be divided one final time this season, so now for the question: is Manchester blue or red?