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A year ago

KEVIN DE BRUYNE STARTS FOR MANCHESTER CITY IN THE FA CUP FINAL

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A year ago



Kevin De Bruyne STARTS for Manchester City in the FA Cup final despite injury concerns as  Stefan Oretga plays in goal, while Antony misses out for Man United after failing to recover from injury in time


Kevin de Bruyne will start for Manchester City in their FA Cup final against local rivals Manchester United despite injury concerns, while Antonymisses out for Erik ten Hag's side.

As revealed yesterday by Pep Guardiola, second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega starts in goal for the Premier League champions, with Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji ahead of him.

John Stones continues in his new hybrid role between defence and midfield, while Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Kevin de Bruyne all return to the side after missing City's final league game, a 1-0 loss to Brentford.


De Bruyne, Grealish, Akanji and Dias had all been doubts for the game after injury concerns, but all four have returned to the squad for the final game of the English season.

Erling Haaland also returns to the side after being rested at Brentford, as the striker seeks an incredible 53rd goal of the season.



Kevin De Bruyne will start Saturday's FA Cup final despite concerns over his fitness


Stefan Ortega will start in goal for Man City despite being second-choice for much of the season

As predicted by ten Hag on Friday, both Antony and Anthony Martial miss out for United, so Jadon Sancho retains his place in the line-up.

Marcus Rashford starts after scoring 30 goals this season, with key midfielder Bruno Fernandes also in the side.

Behind him sit Fred, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. The Brazilian has made a huge difference and knows how to win big finals after picking up five Champions Leagues in his time at Real Madrid.

David de Gea starts in goal after a mixed season, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw ahead of him.

Wan-Bissaka is rated among the best one-on-one defenders in the world, and faces an important battle against Jack Grealish. 

Saturday's final, which kicks off at 3pm, is the first to feature both Manchester clubs, and will be a vital one for the Red Devils as they look to prevent their arch rivals from emulating the treble they won in 1999.

Antony has not made the squad after failing to recover in time from an injury picked up against Chelsea 

Despite the stakes, the United boss insisted the final is about their own success rather than spoling their rivals' season. 

He said before the game: 'It is not about stopping City. It is about us winning the cup. It's a great opportunity. This is a good test for us. I think City have done a very good job. They play very good football so they deserve it but I don’t look at them.


'Of course I look at our opponents but we look to ourselves and you have to see where you are as a club and from there you have to make progress and I think we did last season. Wembley is probably the best stadium in the world and to be there is very exciting.

'We are in a good direction and we have our opportunity in the summer to make new targets, new goals, but the longer term they will stay the same. We want to restore Manchester United but the goals will stay the same. We have had a good season and now we have the chance to make it a very good season.'

FA CUP FINAL LINE-UPS

Man City XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland

Man United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelöf, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred, Eriksen; Bruno Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford.

Kevin De Bruyne STARTS for Manchester City in the FA Cup final

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