FA Cup Final Manchester City or Watford: Complete the treble?

On Saturday night, May 18, all eyes will be on Wembley Stadium, the venue for the 137th FA Cup final (the first was on March 16, 1872). The Premier League champions will have the chance to bring home their third title of the season when they face Watford - the team considered the phenomenon of this year's FA Cup, having overcome many big teams to reach the final.

With a quality and deep squad, Man City is currently still rated higher.

However, that said, it is not easy for defending champion Man City to easily get what they want, because Watford is also eager to lift the most prestigious and oldest trophy in the foggy country for the first time in history. Besides, if they have a victory over the Premier League champion and win the championship, the team at Vicarage Road will have the opportunity to participate in the Europa League.

Will Watford players beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final? Photo: Getty.

In the Premier League this year, Watford did not play really impressively. At the end of the 2018-2019 season, the team nicknamed "wasps" only ranked 11th on the rankings. But in the FA Cup, it was different, when they maintained a very impressive form with dreamlike victories to reach the final for the second time in history.

If they win, Watford's reward will not only be their first championship but also a guaranteed spot in the Europa League. So, certainly, coach Javi Gracia and his team will play an all-in gamble to find a victory.

ManCity's quality squad will be a huge challenge for Watford in the FA Cup final. Photo: Getty.

This season, Coach Gracia's favorite formation is the 4-4-2 formation, but when facing strong and attacking opponents, the 4-5-1 formation will be applied. By placing 5 midfielders in the midfield to limit the opponent's attacking power and using defensive counter-attack tactics with long passes to the strikers to finish, and many times with this formation, Watford has achieved positive results when facing big teams.

With Manchester City, no matter what the circumstances, no matter which team they meet, they will play their best to affirm the strength of a great team, and burn themselves out for the honor of the champion, as well as win the FA Cup title for the 6th time in the team's history after 11 times reaching the final. The last time the "blue half" of Manchester lifted the most prestigious and oldest trophy in this tournament was 8 years ago (2011). In particular, if they win the championship, they will become the first club in history to win the English treble. This is the motivation and determination for Pep's army to lift the cup.

After winning the Premier League and the League Cup, Man City are aiming for a domestic treble if they beat Watford in the FA Cup final. Photo: Getty.

As for Watford, in their history they have also reached the final once (in 1984) but could not touch the championship when they fell to Everton with a score of 0 - 2.

Speaking before the match, captain Troy Deeney completely respected Man City but also confidently asserted that the opponent was not invincible, even ready to threaten Wigan:“Don’t forget that Man City lost to Wigan in the FA Cup last season, so we hope this will be our day. Of course we need luck but we have the quality to do it, especially when we are in this final and we fully deserve it.”

Expected starting lineup:

Manchester City:(4-3-3) Ederson (GK), Zinchenko, Stones, Kompany, Walker, D. Silva, Gundogan, B. Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane.

Watford:(4-5-1): Foster (GK), Masina, Britos, Kabasele, Janmaat, Isaac, Cleverley, Capoue, Doucoure, Femenia, Gray.