Gary Neville believes Erik ten Hag needs to exercise caution if Manchester United are to upset Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
United are aiming to end their season with a second piece of silverware when they take on their rivals at Wembley on Saturday. City are firm favourites after putting together an impressive 12-game winning streak to secure a fifth Premier League title in the past six seasons.
With the Champions League final to come next weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side are in pursuit of a Treble, which would see them equal the achievement of United’s famous team from the 1998/99 season. Ten Hag faces a difficult decision ahead of the final, with several players vying for selection in midfield.
Christian Eriksen has cemented his place in the starting line-up since returning from injury, playing four successive Premier League games alongside Casemiro before being given a rest in the 2-1 win over Fulham last weekend. Fred started that game and impressed, playing a part in both of United’s goals, and Neville believes the Brazilian should be given the nod again at Wembley.
“It’s hard to play well at Wembley sometimes and I might regret saying that because Manchester City will probably go out there and make two million passes,” he said on The FA Cup Special Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet.
“It’s not an easy stadium to get your best performance in, so I’m hoping that’s the case and Manchester City are just below their level.
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“I don’t want Manchester United to play with Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Christian Eriksen in midfield. The game where they beat them, it was Fred with Casemiro. I just don’t see how City won’t run amok if it’s those three in midfield.”
He added: “Staying in the game is everything for United. If they are in it with 10 or 15 minutes to go, they’ve got a great chance – something could happen.”
Fred started alongside Casemiro in United’s 2-1 win over City in the Premier League back on January 14. Ten Hag fielded Eriksen in a more advanced role, with Fernandes shifted to the right wing on that day.
But Fred has fallen out of favour with the Dutchman in recent weeks, with the United boss tending to field Casemiro and Eriksen behind Fernandes, with two wingers supporting a single striker. It remains to be seen whether Fred’s performance against Fulham was enough to influence his manager’s selection for the FA Cup final.
Roy Keane thinks Fernandes and Marcus Rashford hold the key to United’s chances of winning. He said: “I am worried for Manchester United – Manchester City have dominated them for the past few years, but United have players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford who can hurt City.
"Wembley, the atmosphere and the fact that United have been written off – it’s dangerous.”
