Excitement is reaching fever pitch amongst fans as City and United prepare to do battle in a cup final for the first time in history.
The Blues and the Reds face each other in the 142nd FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, June 3. They have faced each other 10 times previously in the competition, but never in the final.
The scramble to sort travel and accommodation began as soon as City and United beat Sheffield United and Brighton respectively last month to book their places in the showpiece.
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A train drivers' strike means no trains will be running from Manchester to the capital with scores of fans facing travel headaches and some questioning whether it needs to be played 200 miles away.
But despite the logistical issues, and some fears over possible crowd trouble, most fans that the Manchester Evening News spoke to outside both the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford said they could not wait for the occasion, while fans of both sides were confident of what would be a famous victory.
City fan Thomas Selwood, 36, from Denton, Tameside said: "I'm a little bit nervous. United are going to be up for it, aren't they? When I was watching their semi-final, I obviously wanted them to get beat, but I started thinking, to beat them in a cup final would just be so good.
"I'm confident though I'd say. Haaland will score six at least Well, he'll probably score five and Pep will take him off for a rest. I just hope before then they keep up being terrible and we keep up being good.
"One thing I do think, it's a local final, so why not play it somewhere local? Why should a load of Mancs, well I say that most of the United fans will be coming from London, but why should we go all the way down there?
"I'll be watching it at home, unfortunately, I have a party on that day. But it'll be on the screen. And they'll be a few pints being sunk if we do win it."
Thomas' grandmother Barbara Selwood, 83, said she would be one of the few people in the city who would be happy if either side won.
"I stick up for them both. I like United and I like City," she said. "I tell my relatives I'm a United fan but that's just to wind them all up as they're all Blues. They say 'you can't say that Nana.' I do like them both. For the final, I hope City win. It doesn't really bother me, but to keep them all happy a City win would be good."
Steve McFie, 70, from Ashton said: "I don't see a problem. I'm confident, very confident. And to me, it makes no difference if it's against United. It's just another game. At one time it might have made a difference but not now, because we're head and shoulders above them, and let's be honest, have bigger fish to fry.
"We were always going to meet at some stage, it's just one of those things. It'll probably mean more to them than it will to us. But I really haven't got a worry about it.
"It should be a brilliant day. We're going down on a supporters coach. We've got a pre-arranged stop in Uxbridge so hopefully, we won't bump into many of them on the way down. I'm really looking forward to it and I'm really confident."
Steve's brother Stuart, 74, from Mottram, said: "I was at the final in 1981 (against Tottenham), and the replay, the one in 2011 against Stoke, when we lost against Wigan and when we beat Watford 6-0 (in 2019).
"But I think it'll rank at the very top if they do it against United. We don't fear anybody at the moment and we shouldn't do, we've got the best team we've had for a very long time.
"We're probably the best club side at the moment, certainly in Europe. So it's a good time to play them. But in the last 10 years, anytime has been a good time.
"Strange things can happen in derbies, but I think man-for-man we're a better side, a more organised side. No one can play out from the back like we do. You see United trying to do it and they panic."
"Wembley is always a decent day out," Stuart added. "But I don't like it, never have done. And two northern teams having to travel down there, it's daft. It's made a bit better that they've moved it to a 3 o'clock kick-off but I just don't think the national stadium should be in London."
Norman Gurley, 88, from Higher Openshaw has been supporting City since he was six years old.
"It's a one-off. For the years it's been going it's never happened before so it is something a bit out of the ordinary. But it is just another game. And if it goes to form, we'll win. We just need to stop missing all these chances. I know we score a lot of goals, but we still miss a lot of chances for me."
Norman was at the final against Birmingham in 1956 where Bert Trautmann famously broke his neck.
"I think this would be even better if we win because it's against United," he said.
"My days of travelling watching football are long gone but I usually go round to my sisters on cup final day so I'll probably do that and watch all the build-up," he added.
Michael Murray, 73, from Prestwich said: "You've got to be confident but you don't get ahead of yourself because anything can happen on the day, especially in a derby. Plenty of times we've been to Old Trafford and got results when we never thought we would do. But on the day, the referee can send somebody off, the ref could give them a penalty like they usually get. So you have to be wary."
Michael added: "Everyone will be excited, let's hope there's no problems with people getting over-excited. I'll be at home with my scarf and my rattle.
"It will be sad if we lose but at the end of the day it's not the end of the world if we do, it's only football. I'm in my seventies now so I can say that, if I was in my twenties or thirties I would probably wouldn't and would probably be even more excited."
Fears of the tension and excitement boiling over were shared by others. Keith Walsh, 58, from Prestwich said: "It should be a good occasion. But I don't think it's wise that the trains have been stopped.
"I think there's going to be a lot of trouble on the way down. At the service stations and things like that. I'm away so won't be there, but I was at the semi in 2011 and there was a lot of trouble then.
"Them being our main rivals, that's where it'll all stem from. If it was anyone else, like the semi-final against Sheffield (United), they knew they were coming for a day out and they knew they weren't going to progress any further, and they made a day of it and everyone was joining in.
"When it's United it's a different kettle of fish. It adds loads of extra spice to it. it'll be one that's remembered for a long time. Definitely, if we win. It'll be one of the best days if we do it. But you can never judge a derby as they can raise their game."
Dave Egan, 70, from Audenshaw, went to his first City game in 1958. "I absolutely hate derby day. Always have. I won't be there unfortunately as I'm away but I'll be finding a bar to watch it. But I reckon I'll be more nervous not being there!
"I think it's been coming for a while. There was the semi-final (in 2011) and this is just the next stage I suppose. The thought of losing to them lot, it's unthinkable really. But it'll be an amazing occasion. I just hope they can keep the fans apart on the way down!"
On the opposite side of town, there were similar levels of excitement, but also a fair dose of trepidation.
United fan Kie Dobson, 40, originally from Chorlton but who now lives in Banbury, Oxfordshire, said: "I'm excited. It should be good. I'm nervous as well. With results like against Liverpool for example, where we got battered, you can't help but be nervous. But I think we'll be up for a final. I just hope the lads turn up."
Kie said he'll be travelling back to Manchester to soak up the atmosphere. "It's the same the weekend as Arctic Monkeys at Old Trafford (cricket ground) so I'll twin it with that. I think everyone will be buzzing. Obviously, the red side will be more up for it, because there's more of us. And I'm confident. You've got to be confident otherwise what's the point of getting to the final!?"
Fellow big Red Trevor Danson, 45, from Salford will be in mid-air, flying out to the Greek island of Santorini where his daughter is getting married two days after the final.
"We're bringing our laptop and are hoping to watch it there. We're due to land at half-time so we'll be running to duty-free and hoping there's a big screen, and we can start the celebrations there as well. It should be good. Derby day – I love it, every minute of it.
"I'm a joiner and I love all the banter at work leading up to it and then after as well. So to have it in a final is just mega. At the minute everyone thinks United are a joke, so we need to turn it around, and absolutely destroy City to send a message that we're not. If we win it, it would be absolutely everything."
Alan Wilkinson, 37, from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, said: "I'm looking forward to it. I think it's going to be a difficult game for both teams really. Obviously, we want to win it, we can't have City winning it.
"But I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be there. I was at the semi-final against Brighton and we were lucky. I'm getting the National Express coach down and the journey back will be a bit nicer if we've won it!"
Kevin Garza, 31, will be setting his alarm early to ensure he makes kick-off, which is at 9am where he lives in Texas. On the day he spoke to the MEN, he had flown to Manchester to do the Old Trafford tour and pay homage to his beloved Reds. And, despite living thousands of miles away, he said the rivalry against City was a 'big deal.'
"It's going to be a rough one," he said. "The rivalry, and the fact it's a final, means there's going to be jitters for both teams. But I think if the defence can be strong and put a wall up, and the mids can sort their passing, we've got this. Ultimately I think it'll come down to who wants it more and who is more mentally prepared for it."
Steve Roofe, 47, from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire said: "It'll be a good game. Fingers crossed we win. It'll be a tough game, no doubt about that.
"A lot of people say Liverpool are the biggest rivals but there's definitely rivalry there with City. And hopefully, we can get a 2-1 win and we can bring it home.
"I'll be watching it in the pub. It'll be about 95 percent Reds and it'll be pretty special if we do do it."
Paul Smith, 29, from Stretford, said: "Im dreading it. With the team they have, they're firing at the minute. But anything can happen in a cup final. I just hope we pull through. That's all we can do, hope."
Mokhbul Ali, 44, from Hyde, is travelling down on a coach with other MUFC staff. "I'm fearful," he said. "I'm a United fan and obviously I want us to win. City are over the moon at the minute. Haaland, he's just a goal-killer! So I reckon City will win, but if United dig deep and push it harder, I think they could get through.
"I hope so anyway. I'm just not sure. It'll be a brilliant day getting on the coach with everyone and travelling down. I'm really looking forward to it and am just praying we do it."
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