Manchester City vs Manchester United live: Updates from the FA Cup final
By James Ducker and Telegraph Sport
Pep Guardiola has confirmed No 2 goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Ortega has started every round of the competition for Manchester City this season and Guardiola says the German will keep his place at Ederson’s expense.
“He’s going to play yeah, it’s always like that, even in Barcelona, the keeper who has played FA Cup [stays in goal],” the City manager said.
Guardiola also said Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake were all available after minor injury problems.
“They trained well in the last two days – no concerns,” he said. “They are more or less fine.”
Guardiola also believes stopping Manchester City winning the treble could give Manchester United extra motivation in the FA Cup final.
For Premier League winners City victory could be the second leg of a potentially glorious treble with the final of the Champions League to come next week.
United on the other hand – as the only side to have won all three of those competitions in the same season, back in 1999 – will be anxious to stop them and protect their place in history.
City manager Guardiola said: “I could understand that. It belongs to them, that’s normal. Sport is like that.
”‘That belongs to us – we don’t want anyone else to do it,’ it’s normal, that feeling. It’s completely understandable. But it’s a football game, who will be better will win.”
United boss Erik ten Hag, however, has played down the party-pooping aspect of his side’s task. The Dutchman has enjoyed an encouraging first season at Old Trafford having won the Carabao Cup and reclaimed a Champions League spot.
“I know what is the thinking from the fans,” Ten Hag said. “But what we want is to restore Manchester United by winning trophies. We have an opportunity to win a trophy and we don’t want to be distracted by anything.
“If it’s important for the fans then it’s important for us, so we will give everything to win the cup.”