7 Sub-plots On Cup Final Day

ManUtd.com’s Mark Froggatt looks forward to Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, highlighting the many sub-plots for Manchester United fans to consider ahead of the big game…

A TROPHY IN EVERY COUNTRY
Louis van Gaal has previously lifted domestic cups in Holland, Spain and Germany while managing former clubs Ajax (KNVB Cup), Barcelona (Copa del Rey) and Bayern Munich (DFB-Pokal). The Dutchman can continue that theme by lifting the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday.

ARSENAL WITHIN SIGHT
United have won 11 FA Cups in history and victory against Crystal Palace this weekend would move the Reds level with Arsenal, who have currently lifted the prize more times than any other club (12).

COMPLETING THE SET
Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have each won the Premier League, the League Cup, the FA Community Shield, the UEFA Champions League and even the FIFA Club World Cup during their decorated Old Trafford careers. Yet the trophy that eludes them is the FA Cup and both are desperate to complete their medal collections, while Rooney could also lift his first trophy during his reign as captain.

RASHFORD'S RECORD
Marcus Rashford could become United's second-youngest scorer in an FA Cup final, if he finds the net at Wembley. The exciting Academy graduate will be 18 years, six months and 20 days old on Saturday and that is ever so slightly older than the current record-holder Norman Whiteside, who was 18 years and 19 days old when he netted in the 1983 replay against Brighton.

THE REMATCH
United and Palace famously met in the 1990 final, drawing 3-3 at Wembley before the Reds secured a 1-0 win in the replay thanks to Lee Martin's goal. It was Sir Alex Ferguson's first trophy with United and current Eagles manager Alan Pardew was in the opposition team in both games.

THIRD-YOUNGEST FINALIST
Tim Fosu-Mensah could become the third-youngest United player to feature in an FA Cup final at 18 years, three months and 19 days old. Norman Whiteside holds the record at 18 years and 19 days in 1983, as mentioned above, with Alex Dawson behind him at 18 years old, two months and 12 days in 1985.

TWO FAMILIAR FACES
Crystal Palace could have two ex-Reds among their squad on Saturday in the form of Wilfried Zaha and Fraizer Campbell. The former may need to pass a late fitness test but Eagles boss Alan Pardew has already revealed his player is highly motivated. “He’s very much aware that’s he’s playing against a club that rejected him. I’ve said to him before, ‘What are you going to do about it?’”

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered as representative of Manchester United Football Club.

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