Rio Ferdinand says he’s got ‘no confidence’ in Manchester United’s chances ahead of the FA Cup final and believes it will take a ‘crazy effort’ to beat Manchester City.
The odds are stacked against United ahead of this weekend’s Wembley showpiece, with the club enduring an immensely difficult campaign and finishing eighth in the top flight – their worst ever finish of the Premier League era.
Holders City, meanwhile, will be brimming with confidence after seeing off the challenge of Arsenal to seal their fourth straight title on the final day of the season.
Pep Guardiola’s side will also take encouragement from their defeat of United in last year’s cup final, when Ilkay Gundogan scored twice to inspire them to a 2-1 victory over their bitter rivals.
United also have the added pressure of having to win on Saturday to secure a spot in next year’s Europa League after Newcastle pipped them to seventh place by beating Brentford last weekend.
Previewing the clash on the Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand predicted it would take a ‘huge amount of luck and fortune’ for United to come out on top at Wembley.
‘Based on what I’ve seen this season from both sides, Manchester City and Manchester United, I’ve got no confidence, I have to say,’ the legendary ex-United and England defender said.
‘It’s the first time I’m going to a cup final with Man United and thinking that we have a very, very, very, very small chance of winning this game.
‘You always backed Man United, “It’s the cup final, Man United are gonna win this”, or, “Man United have got a real good chance to win it”.
‘The gap between Man United and City now is at its biggest that it has ever been. The fall off that we’ve had compared to them right now is huge so how can I, in my right mind, go into this game with any sort of confidence?’
Ferdinand added: ‘You have a puncher’s chance because we’ve got someone like Bruno [Fernandes] maybe or Marcus [Rashford] or [Alejandro] Garnacho who can have a moment, an explosive moment. Remember Marcus’ goal against them earlier in the season.
‘There are people that can do that but can we keep City out for the rest of the game? You’ll sitting there on tenterhooks, I’d be losing hair for the 90 minutes, the beard going even greyer.
‘But you have hope, we’re football fans. You sit there and we have hope, man. Hope, craziness almost… borderline nuts! But you do have hope as a football fan and that’s how we live.
‘But it’s going to be an absolute crazy effort and huge amount of luck and fortune, I think, for us to get anything out of this game.’
Asked for his score prediction, Ferdinand replied: ‘My heart says Man United on penalties and we limp to penalties, but my head says City are going to beat us.
‘I can’t give a score. I just think they’ll win, I’ve got to be honest.
‘They will take it out of our hands and we won’t even see the ball.’
Ferdinand believes the writing is on the wall for Erik ten Hag, even if United manage to cause an upset versus their noisy neighbours in the final.
‘I don’t think it matters. I honestly feel that it’s gone too far now,’ he continued.
‘I’d be surprised if INEOS kept Ten Hag as the manager next season. There’s something in my that’s telling me that.’
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