Gary Neville thinks the Wembley pitch could pose a challenge for Manchester City as they aim to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final next month in their bid to win the treble.
The all-Manchester affair will take place at the national stadium on Saturday, June 3. Both sides will be aiming to lift the famous old trophy to not only claim silverware but also bragging rights over their rivals.
United have already won a trophy this season with the Carabao Cup in the bag and will be seeking to make it a domestic silverware double. City, meanwhile, are on the cusp of sealing the Premier League title and are also in the semi-final of the Champions League.
READ MORE: Solskjaer is right about the United dressing room but caused some of the problems
United reached Wembley courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over Brighton following a goalless draw. City, meanwhile, swept aside Championship opposition Sheffield United 3-0 in their semi-final.
City are going for the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Should they achieve it, they would emulate the remarkable achievement United managed in 1999.
United legend Neville, who was part of that treble-winning side, believes Pep Guardiola's men will be "disappointed" if they do not go on to pick up all three trophies. And he believes the prospect of playing at Wembley does not always translate to sides playing their best football, which he is hoping plays a part for his old side.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Neville said: "They’ll be disappointed now, Manchester City, if they don’t win it because they’ll feel they’re favourites in every single game. They’re in great form and everyone’s buzzing.
"I’m just happy Manchester United have got an opportunity to try and stop them. That, for me, was what I wanted out of the semi-final when it went to penalties against Brighton. I think Manchester United - the one thing I’ll say about Wembley and City can defy logic when it comes to playing well - I think Wembley’s a hard stadium to play well on.
"I think generally most teams don’t play as well on Wembley as they do on their home pitch, and Manchester United have just got to hope on the day it’s more difficult for City, purely because I’ve never seen a really amazing performance at Wembley that often - England or other teams. Manchester United, they’ll fight for their lives that day and you never know."
Get your hands on our 48-page souvenir United v City FA Cup Final print supplement by clicking here.
READ MORE:
