Billy Sharp of Sheffield United tussles with Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips during the FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley on 22nd April Photo: ACTION FOTO SPORT
The 2023 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United in London overnight (KO 2am NZT) is the first all-Manchester final in the competition's long history.
A near 90,000 crowd is expected at Wembley despite more national train strikes leaving tens of thousands of fans having to make alternative plans to travel to London.
Pep Guardiola's City, who have already won the Premier League and face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10, can take a set towards a remarkable Treble tonight.
But United, who have already defeated City this season, are looking to follow up their Carabao Cup triumph in February by completing a domestic cup double.
"We want to win a cup, it is not about stopping them," said United's Dutch boss Erik ten Hag.
"We have a great opportunity. Wembley is probably the best stadium in the world and to be there in the cup final is really exciting."
Guardiola said he will play second-choice keeper Stefan Ortega, who has started all five FA Cup games this season, over first-choice Ederson.
It is the first time the FA Cup final, traditionally played in May, has taken place in June, as a result of fixture congestion caused by the World Cup in Qatar last November and December.
Rival fans heading to Wembley are being urged to use separate routes and motorway service stations to help minimise disruption.
Major congestion is feared on a day when another train strike is planned.
Wembley team news
United's France forward Anthony Martial will miss the final because of a hamstring injury, while Antony is a doubt.
The Brazil winger was carried off on a stretcher in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on May 25.
The big news from the City camp is that Ortega will start in place of Brazil keeper Ederson.
Guardiola said he had no fresh injuries and that Jack Grealish, who has not featured since May 17, and Kevin de Bruyne, who missed the defeat by Brentford last Sunday, have trained.
'Pleasure to be here'
City are looking to match United's 1998-99 feat when Sir Alex Ferguson's side won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.
Guardiola's side could win a Premier League and FA Cup double for the second time in their history, after 2018-19.
"We are in the final of FA Cup and it is a pleasure to be here," said the City boss.
"Finals are about how you play in the moment, not what you've done in the past, but how you do individually as a team.
"The final is special. Manchester United are a different team to what we faced at the start of the season. They have improved and so has their quality."
City have reached the final without conceding a goal. They have scored 17 times in five matches.
Erling Haaland has scored 52 league and cup goals for City since arriving from Borussia Dortmund 12 months ago.
Haaland says a historic treble in his first season with Manchester City would be his "biggest dream".
"It would be unreal to make this history," the Norway forward told BBC Sport. "This is why they bought me of course, to get this, we don't have to hide that."
- BBC
