Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has singled out United duo Casemiro and Erik ten Hag for praise ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final meeting between the two rivals at Wembley.
It’s not often the Red Devils have headed to the national stadium with the status of ‘underdog’ hanging over their head.
But perhaps this is no bad thing. Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United were not exactly favourites to defeat their baby blue-clad rivals the last time the two sides met either but, if they can emulate that dramatic 2-1 win in mid-January, the FA Cup trophy will be adorned with red ribbons on Saturday evening.
Many a pundit may be taking United rather lightly, but there is little chance of Guardiola doing the same.
The Man City boss has spoken in glowing terms about Ten Hag’s impact at Old Trafford in recent months; each coach on one win apiece during their head-to-head clashes so far in 2022/23.
Can Erik ten Hag triumph over Pep Guardiola?
“It’s not easy, the first season in the Premier League. I know (that) myself. So (Ten Hag’s success) defines a really good manager,” Guardiola tells Manchester Evening News, the Dutchman looking to complete a domestic cup double this weekend.
“I cannot say we are friends as we are not in touch much. But I think Man United has an exceptional manager for many, many years.”
Alongside Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and co, Casemiro will be one of the first names on Ten Hag’s team sheet; his name scrawled down in magic marker. Remarkably, the former Real Madrid hero has only lost one of the 16 cup finals he has featured in, though he will have to be at his bone-rattling best if he is to continue that remarkable track record at Wembley.
“I don’t know him personally,” Guardiola adds. “But, when he was in Madrid, I had info on how professional he is. I was convinced he would not come here for holidays in the last years of his career.”
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