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Erik ten Hag’s men may not fancy their prospects of ending a wretched campaign positively in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Without a doubt, Manchester United have had an awful 2023-24. Erik ten Hag’s troops ended the Premier League in eighth place, exited the Champions League in the group stage and were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Newcastle United in the Fourth Round.
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The upshot of the Red Devils’ worst finish in the Premier League era means they need success against Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final to play continental football next season.
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Beating Pep Guardiola’s side, fresh from claiming a fourth league win on the trot, guarantees Europa League football for Ten Hag’s team next season, but these five statistics provided by Opta in the lead-up to a repeat of last year’s final does not bode well for the Red Devils.
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13:10 - 21.05.2024
FA Cup final: Why Chelsea will be rooting for Man City against Man Utd
Chelsea will be keeping a keen eye on Manchester United’s clash against Manchester City on Saturday.
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10:08 - 18.05.2024
9 facts you did not know about the FA Cup
The FA Cup is the oldest football tournament, having been first played in 1871, and there have been memorable moments over the years but what makes this competition unique?
FA Cup final
- The head-to-head: Manchester United have been beaten in six of their last seven matches against their city rivals, with the only United win a 2-1 triumph in January 2023 under the incumbent Dutch manager. The dominant side in Manchester have won the last three meetings, including last year's final at Wembley Stadium.
- Manchester United’s recent record in FA Cup finals: Despite claiming the oldest cup competition in the sport 12 times, the Red Devils have been defeated in four of their last five deciders — a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace under Louis van Gaal in 2016. They were beaten by Arsenal on penalties in 2005, Chelsea two years later (1-0), Chelsea again in 2018 (1-0) and Man City last year (2-1).
- Lowly-ranked teams' history against league champions: While Manchester United's final league position in 2023-24 could be considered anomalous, the precedent of clubs finishing eighth or lower in FA Cup deciders against the champions points to a victory for the Cityzens. Since Aston Villa (10th) beat Man Utd 2-1 in the 1957 final, further games between the English champions and sides ending eighth or lower have seen the former win by an aggregate score of 15-0.
- United's losses this season: Despite ending 23-24 with two victories against Newcastle United and Brighton, Ten Hag's men have been beaten 19 times this term in all competitions, conceding 84 goals. They have not lost 20 since 1973-74 when they were beaten 22 times and have not let in more than 84 since they conceded 89 in 1963-64.
- Man City's FA Cup winning run: Guardiola's men may not replicate last season's treble win, but they could claim back-to-back doubles for the first time in English football. Guardiola's men have won 11 straight matches in the FA Cup and could make it 12 on Saturday, keen to edge closer to Chelsea's 13-match streak (2009-2011) and Blackburn Rovers' 20 (1883-1886).
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