Manchester City FA Cup Final predicted XI: Team news and injury updates
Pep Guardiola confirmed Stefan Ortega will start in goal for Manchester City’s eagerly anticipated FA Cup final showdown with rivals Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday (3pm BST).
Manchester City Team News
As was the case during his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has utilised his reverse goalkeeper in the cup competitions.
Indeed, Ortega has started all five of City’s games during their run to the final, and will retain his place between the sticks at Wembley.
“He’s going to play,” Guardiola said of the German during his pre-match press conference. “It’s always been the same in the cups, even with Barcelona and Munich, so he’s going to play in the FA Cup.”
The Spaniard also confirmed Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish will be available after both were not fit to face Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season.
Although, both may start on the bench with next weekend’s Champions League final against Inter in mind.
“They trained well the last two training sessions,” Guardiola said on Friday. “They are more or less fine.”
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see whether he opts for Bernardo Silva on the right wing or Riyad Mahrez, who has featured frequently during the backend of the Premier League season and scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup
Manchester City Predicted XI (3-2-4-1): Stefan Ortega; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake; John Stones, Rodri; Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden; Erling Haaland.
Manchester City injury list
- Jack Grealish (other) 75% – Potential Return Early June
- Manuel Akanji (other) 50% – Potential Return Early June
- Kevin De Bruyne (other) 50% – Potential Return Early June
- Ruben Dias (other) 50% – Potential Return Early June
