Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has revealed the major motivation for his side as they get set to take on archrivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend.
The Dutchman believes his players must take advantage of the “great opportunity” that has been provided to them as they plan to make a good season even better.
“We want to win,” the former Ajax manager said. “We want to win a cup.
“And it is not about stopping them [Manchester City]. It is about that we win, that we win a cup. We have a great opportunity.”
The Derby ????
It'll be an all-Manchester Final for the pinnacle of the 2022/23 #EmiratesFACup ???? pic.twitter.com/bgMobg4Qd8
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 23, 2023
The two teams will rekindle their rivalry in a historic derby in the final of football’s oldest cup competition at Wembley Stadium. Having met on ten separate occasions in the competition, the two English giants will be facing off in the final for the first time ever.
Ten Hag also downplayed the impact the outcome of the final will have on the club’s summer business while revealing he is also satisfied with how their season has panned out.
“No, that will not be the case,” the 53-year-old tactician said. “Always, after a couple of days, it will settle down and then you move in the summer.
“But I think we had a good season. But, of course, we have a great opportunity to make it a very good season.
“I think that it is very good, when you see where we came from and when you see the development, the progress of the team, and then you are in a tough league as the Premier League,” he continued.
“When you finish third and you win the League Cup and you are in the final of the FA Cup, I think then you can be happy with the season. But also, I know after [the] summer, we start again and we start from zero.”
City defeated Sheffield United in the semifinal, while the Red Devils needed penalties to see off Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ten Hag’s side will be looking to win their second title of the season and their 13th in the competition, as they also look to prevent Pep Guardiola and the Cityzens from winning their seventh FA Cup title and a potential treble.
United will be without French forward Anthony Martial, who has been ruled out of the final, while Brazilian winger Antony remains a major doubt following the ankle injury he picked up against Chelsea.
“Unlikely, [Antony] dos Santos still has a chance, but it is a really small chance,” Ten Hag added.
“He did make progress. So, as I said, he still has a chance, but it is unlikely that he is available.”
The 142nd FA Cup Final will take place on Saturday, June 3, at 3 p.m. WAT.
