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Man Utd told they ‘have no chance’ in Man City FA Cup final unless four players show up
EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd need at least four players to be at their best if they are to beat Man City in the FA Cup final.
The spine of Erik ten Hag's side must show up against Manchester City if Manchester United are to lift the FA Cup this afternoon, according to Ally McCoist. United travel to Wembley as the strong underdogs, and McCoist believes four players in particular must be at their best to prevent a second successive final derby defeat.
The Red Devils will attempt to salvage something from a disastrous season in the form of a 13th FA Cup but face Pep Guardiola's formidable winning machine.
Fresh off lifting an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, City's motivation, other than piling the misery onto their bitter rivals, is to become the first team to clinch back-to-back Premier League and FA Cup doubles.
Ten Hag has been blessed with a flurry of returns from injury in the weeks building up to the derby clash in the capital.
Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford returned to action earlier in the month after spells on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount and Anthony Martial were involved in team training earlier this week, springing them into contention to feature.
McCoist believes that whichever team Ten Hag selects will need to defend valiantly and take their chances when they arise, as well as having a slice of luck, to beat City.
He has pinpointed Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and United's two centre-backs, Lisandro Martinez and his chosen partner, as especially crucial players.
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"It's absolutely remarkable. You think of two city rivals going into a game, and I can't remember one of them being bigger underdogs in a long, long time," McCoist told Express Sport on behalf of talkSPORT BET.
"That's obviously United this year. Last year, it was a comfortable victory for City. For United to have any chance, I think the spine of the team has to perform. I really do.
"[Lisandro] Martinez [and] the goalkeeper [are] going to have to play well. They'll have to defend well, carry a bit of luck, and take any chances that come their way.
"So, with that in mind, the goalkeeper will have to play well, the two centre-backs [and Rasmus] Hojlund. But you've got to say the odds are stacked very, very heavily against United.
"It's a one-off cup final, so, of course, they've got a chance, there's no doubt about that. But it's common sense to me that they'll have to defend well and take any chances that come their way.
"So effectively, the spine of the team [must show up]. The goalkeeper's going to have to have an exceptional day, Hojlund will have to take his chances, and the centre-backs, obviously."
All three specific players mentioned by McCoist were brought to United by Ten Hag for a combined £176m in the last two years.
They have the chance to potentially save the Dutchman from the sack by causing a shock and securing a second major trophy in as many seasons under his rule.