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Arsenal soccer star Bukayo Saka signs posters for fans’ treasure hunt
Fans of Arsenal FC take part in a treasure hunt in north London, England, where seven unique posters signed by superstar Bukayo Saka had been hidden.
USA Today
The FA Cup final is a Manchester Derby for the second year in a row with City and United facing off Saturday at London’s Wembley Stadium in the 143rd edition of England’s primary cup competition.
Manchester City finished off its record fourth consecutive English Premier League title under manager Pep Guardiola last weekend, while Manchester United’s eighth-place campaign was the club’s worst league finish since 1990.
“We respect United… in the last decade we have been better,” Guardiola said the day before the match. “Maybe tomorrow (it is) different. It can be different, nothing is eternal. I am sure United will work to come up again.”
City defeated United 2-1 in last year’s final and are looking to win the tournament for the third time in six years.
Keep up with the latest from Saturday’s showdown:
The 2024 FA Cup final will air exclusively on ESPN+ on Saturday, May 25.
United takes a stunning 2-0 lead into the dressing room after goals from teenagers Alejandro Garnacho (30th minute) and Kobbie Mainoo (39th minute).
Pep Guardiola’s team dominated possession (75%) in the first half but only managed one shot on goal. City are more than capable of digging out of this hole, but United did a great job finding space when their rivals press to get the ball back, particularly on the second goal.
Less than 10 minutes after fellow 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho put United ahead, Kobbie Mainoo scored to cap off a sweeping counter-attack and make it 2-0, first-timing a shot from close range after a clever pass from captain Bruno Fernandes.
Mainoo played 24 Premier League games for United this season, earning his way into England’s senior national team ahead of this summer’s European Championships.
United’s 19-year-old old winger Alejandro Garnacho pounced on a mistake by City defender Joško Gvardiol, who tried to head the ball back to his goalkeeper in an awkward encounter on a long ball played over the top. City keeper Stefan Ortega had come out to try collecting the ball, allowing Garnacho to slip in behind and score in the 30th minute.
United defender Lisando Martinez collided with City’s Erling Haaland going up for a cross in the opening minutes with the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner hitting the ground hard. City wanted a penalty but a quick replay check decided that there wasn’t enough there.
City won both meetings between the clubs in the 2023-24 Premier League season after taking last year’s FA Cup final against their rivals.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes his team can salvage what has been a woeful season in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, a game steeped in speculation it could be the beleaguered manager’s last with the club.
“It’s all about trophies,” Ten Hag told reporters on Thursday. “We have a huge opportunity to win a trophy.
“In the last 10 years there have not been so many trophies at the club but we have the opportunity to win two in two years,” he added, in reference to last season’s League Cup victory.
The Dutchman declined to answer when he was asked if Saturday could be his final game in charge for United.
“I have nothing to say, I just focus on the job I have to do and that is win the game on Saturday and then we are in the project and keep going in the project,” he said. “I came here to win trophies. Saturday I have the opportunity to achieve this and we earned this opportunity as a team.
“After every season you review it and see where you are in the project and what things may need to change.”
– Reuters
Where is the FA Cup final in 2024?
The 2024 FA Cup final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London.
The new Wembley Stadium has hosted the match since 2007, the year the stadium opened. The original Wembley hosted the FA Cup final every year except one from 1923 to 2000. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, was home to the game from 2001-2006 while the new Wembley was under construction.
FA Cup final 2024 kick off time
The 2024 FA Cup final begins at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 25.
List of FA Cup winners
- 2022-23: Manchester City
- 2021-22: Liverpool
- 2020-21: Leicester City
- 2019-20: Arsenal
- 2018-19: Manchester City
- 2017-18: Chelsea
- 2016-17: Arsenal
- 2015-16: Manchester United
- 2014-15: Arsenal
- 2013-14: Arsenal
- 2012-13: Wigan Athletic
Contributing: Reuters
