Rio Ferdinand has expressed doubts about Manchester United’s prospects in the upcoming FA Cup final, suggesting that an extraordinary effort would be required to triumph over Manchester City.
Manchester United faces a daunting challenge at the Wembley final this weekend, having concluded the season in eighth place, marking their lowest position in the Premier League’s history.
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On the other hand, Manchester City is entering the final with high spirits, having clinched their fourth consecutive title by overcoming Arsenal on the season’s last day.
City also has the psychological advantage of having bested United in the previous year’s final, with Ilkay Gundogan’s double contributing to a 2-1 win against their arch-nemesis.
The stakes are high for United, who must emerge victorious on Saturday to claim a Europa League berth for the following year, especially after Newcastle secured seventh place by defeating Brentford recently.
In his analysis on the ‘Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE’ YouTube channel, Ferdinand anticipated that it would require a significant stroke of luck and good fortune for United to prevail at Wembley.
‘Based on what I’ve seen this season from both sides, Manchester City and Manchester United, I’ve got no confidence, I have to say,’ the legendary ex-United and England defender said.
‘It’s the first time I’m going to a cup final with Man United and thinking that we have a very, very, very, very small chance of winning this game.
‘You always backed Man United, “It’s the cup final, Man United are gonna win this”, or, “Man United have got a real good chance to win it”.
‘The gap between Man United and City now is at its biggest that it has ever been. The fall off that we’ve had compared to them right now is huge so how can I, in my right mind, go into this game with any sort of confidence?’
Ferdinand added: ‘You have a puncher’s chance because we’ve got someone like Bruno [Fernandes] maybe or Marcus [Rashford] or [Alejandro] Garnacho who can have a moment, an explosive moment. Remember Marcus’ goal against them earlier in the season.
‘There are people that can do that but can we keep City out for the rest of the game? You’ll sitting there on tenterhooks, I’d be losing hair for the 90 minutes, the beard going even greyer.
‘But you have hope, we’re football fans. You sit there and we have hope, man. Hope, craziness almost… borderline nuts! But you do have hope as a football fan and that’s how we live.
‘But it’s going to be an absolute crazy effort and huge amount of luck and fortune, I think, for us to get anything out of this game.’
Asked for his score prediction, Ferdinand ssid: ‘My heart says Man United on penalties and we limp to penalties, but my head says City are going to beat us.
‘I can’t give a score. I just think they’ll win, I’ve got to be honest. ‘They will take it out of our hands and we won’t even see the ball.’
Ferdinand believes the writing is on the wall for Erik ten Hag, even if Man United manage to cause an upset versus City in the final.
‘I don’t think it matters. I honestly feel that it’s gone too far now,’ he continued.
‘I’d be surprised if INEOS kept Ten Hag as the manager next season. There’s something in my that’s telling me that.’
