Stats show Manchester United’s squad have won more finals on average (58.7%) than rivals Man City (46%) ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Stats have revealed the United squad have a combined success rate of 58.7% of every final they have played in throughout their senior careers. Hope they are talking about another win on Saturday in the FA Cup final.
On the other hand, the success rate of the City squad ion finals is just 46% in comparison, despite their recent feat of a third consecutive Premier League title.
Raphael Varane has won a staggering 16 out of 19 finals he has played in his senior career, at a rate of 84.2%. Casemiro has an even better win percentage losing just TWO finals out of the 19 he has played in — with an 89.4% success rate in finals.
When it comes to City, England international Jack Grealish has won just one final out of eight in his senior career – a success rate of just 12.5%.
However, we know that stats like this won’t win Manchester United the FA Cup. They will be meaningless come kick-off on Saturday evening when you check the football betting markets.
When it comes to Teddy Sheringham, he doesn’t think defeat would represent failure for United.
Sheringham said: “I think it’s still positive. I think when you you’re playing in cup finals, you’ve got to say it’s positive.
“Things can go either way in one-off games. You’re playing against the best team in the world, the way I see it, and it’s going to be very difficult to win.”
Former England international John Barnes has previewed the FA Cup final and he thinks Ten Hag will have to be defensive in his approach as United manager. He doesn’t believe the Reds can take the game to their rivals.
“Ten Hag has to be defensive. They know they cannot outplay them so you don’t go head to head.
“When Man City win the ball, they will get forward in numbers so I think Man Utd can counterattack with their pace. Rashford, Sancho and whoever else they have up front, they will have to capitalise on whatever opportunities they have and make them pay.
“They’ll have to try and keep the ball from Man City, play an open game whereby when they attack Man Utd can get numbers in attack as well. Man City will also have to attack with one eye on defence, in case they lose the ball.
“It will have to be a strong defensive performance from Manchester United.”
Barnes is also keen to point out how City were overwhelming favourites when they lost to Chelsea in the Champions League final.
“Man City will be favourites for sure. But, it’s a one-off so anything can happen. No matter how well you play, how much you dominate possession, how many opportunities you have, in a one-off game, you can lose.
“They can be the best team, hit the post 10 times and lose one-nil.
“Manchester City were the favourites when they lost the Champions League final against Chelsea, they’ve been favourites when they’ve lost before.
“But I will make them overwhelming favourites.”
On top of that, Barnes doesn’t believe the prospect of a treble will distract City.
He added: “No, the prospect of a treble won’t be a distraction, They only have two games to go.”
“If you had eight games in the league, a couple of semifinals, then it could possibly be a distraction.
“Whereas now it’s just two games. One part of the treble is the next game and the last part is the last game. So, it’s only a distraction when there are quite a few games.
“The fact that it’s only two games to go, is not a distraction at all.”
