‘Anything is possible’ – Ten Hag shares defiant United message before FA Cup final vs City

Erik ten Hag admits he enjoys watching Manchester City play football, but has urged Manchester United to ‘fight’ if necessary to win the FA Cup trophy on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

Beneath the famous Wembley arch, City and United will collide for the first time ever in an FA Cup final and there will be plenty of passion in the stadium when the two teams get down to business – especially with Pep Guardiola and his star-studded team still able to get their hands on a historic treble this term.

Of course, United won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in one campaign 24 years ago now. Hoping to ‘defend’ that achievement, the current United crop also have their own ambitions this season, after ending their silverware hoodoo in the Carabao Cup.

Ten Hag was pressed on the impending showdown in a sit-down with former United forward Dion Dublin for BBC One show Football Focus. In a short clip, the Dutchman said: “I think that the rivalry and logical and normal on both sides and you have to respect each other.

“Of course, on Saturday we will fight each other. It’s a big game an FA Cup final – huge. Any game with Manchester United and Manchester City is huge, but when it’s a final it’s special, of course.”

Ten Hag added: “Every game you learn lessons. It’s really enjoyable to watch Manchester City, but we have to stop them and we have to make it our game. We have proved we can beat them, but we have to play to our level. If we have belief, anything is possible.”

“As a child you dream… We want to win that cup and we know it’s going to be tough because you play – probably – against the best team in the world at this moment in time.”