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The Emirates FA Cup Final preview Posted On 17 May 2019

The Emirates FA Cup Final preview

Man City have the chance to make history when they meet Watford FC in the Emirates FA Cup final this weekend.

Newly crowned Premier League Champions, Man City face Watford FC in the FA Cup final this weekend, hoping to win the Cup for the first time since the 2010/11 season when they beat Stoke City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

If Manchester City wins, it will be the sixth time they’ve won the competition in the FA Cup’s 147-year history, having lifted the trophy in the 2010/11, 1968/69, 1955/56, 1933/34, 1903/04 seasons.

They will leapfrog Everton FC and become the joint-fifth club with the most FA Cup wins, level with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. Arsenal FC holds the top spot with 13 wins, followed by Man Utd in second on 12, Chelsea FC and Tottenham are joint-third, both on 8 wins and Liverpool FC and Aston Villa are joint-fourth with 7 apiece.

Watford FC has never won the prestigious cup, their best performance being in the 1983/84 season when they reached the final, losing 2-0 to Everton FC. They have reached the semi-finals four other times.

Man City sealed the Premier League title on Sunday, while Watford lost 4-1 to West Ham which confirmed their 11th place finish. History doesn’t point to an upset, with no team in the bottom half of the top-flight table ever beating the side to finish top.

Pep Guardiola will have the chance to make English football history, having already won the Carabao Cup and the Premier League, they could become the first-ever team to win a domestic treble. He could also join Man City legend Joe Mercer OBE as the eighth manager to win all the English domestic competitions.

Players to watch:

Man City: Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian striker is showing little sign of slowing down now he has entered his 30s. He has scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, more than in all his previous campaigns, bar one. And, he loves playing against Watford, being involved in 12 goals in 7 appearances, including two hat-tricks.

Watford FC: Gerard Deulofeu. The 25-year-old Spaniard appears to finally have settled after several loan moves and has had his most productive season yet with 10 goals and 5 assists. He is a rapid and skilful player who loves dribbling and may cause Man City some problems on the day.

Prediction: 5-0 Man City.

Watford FC are plucky under-dogs who will be happy with their season, however, Man City are from another planet. Pep Guardiola and his team will be relaxed after a tense final few weeks of the Premier League season. Expect the nerves and the shackles to be off and expect goals – lots of goals. Man City have won their last 14 games, scoring 49 goals (averaging 3.5 goals a game) while Watford FC have lost their last three games conceding 9 goals in total.

How to watch?

Kick-off is at 5pm Saturday with live coverage on BBC One and BT Sport.

 

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