Why Pep Guardiola 'completely agrees' with Erik ten Hag as under-pressure Man Utd boss prepares for crunch FA Cup final against Man City

City are overwhelming favourites heading into the FA Cup final against United after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title. The Red Devils, by contrast, registered their lowest finish in the league since 1990 and finished with a negative goal difference. And the dire campaign looks set to cost Ten Hag his job. But Guardiola said he felt for United as they were hampered by relentless injury problems.

"He has done many good things, I have huge respect for his job in the past and now at United I completely agree when I listen to him when he says they have not had a full squad this season and had a lot of injuries," Guardiola told a press conference. "I think this is the most important thing they have to think about because I am always focused that we have to be fit, fit, fit - otherwise we cannot use the players. They had a lot of problems and when that happens the manager suffers a lot. The squad is really good but the problem is when you cannot use them. This is a big disadvantage."

Guardiola said that United can never be counted out despite their problems and singled out Bruno Fernandes as their most influential player. "The brilliant players they have up front, Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund. The influence of Bruno on that team is outstanding. His creativity is one of the best I have ever seen."

Ten Hag has had to contend with more than 60 injuries this season, leading to players missing a combined total of more than 350 games. United will still be missing Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire for the final, although City have no injury worries aside from Ederson, who would have missed out anyway as Stefan Ortega is the first choice goalkeeper in cup competitions.

City can make more history by becoming the first English side to win back-to-back doubles of the league title and FA Cup. Guardiola added: "The history gives us a chance to do what hasn’t been done before, why not try it? Maybe it is an extra motivation for the players, I don’t speak about it but like I said to them, just to play to win. No team had won four [titles] in a row, when they have not done back to back FA Cups it is because it is not easy. At the same time, what’s next? That is the mentality the big teams have to show, go for it with all they have."