What: FA Cup final
Who: Manchester City vs Wigan
When: Saturday 9th May, 2013, at 17:15 UK Time
Where: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Roberto Mancini Set For Glorious Farewell?
If Roberto Mancini guides Manchester City to the FA Cup then he will continue a theme which has seen Italians dominate this competition in recent years. The last three winners of the competition have all been Italians and the last time Manchester City lost to opponents Wigan, their owner was Thaksin Shinawatra.
Manchester City’s season is all but over after victory over West Brom last time out mathematically secured Champions League football for the Citizens. But their form has been listless for much of the season and they have struggled to find the net anywhere near as regularly as they did during their Premier League title winning campaign last year.
The game may prove to be a send-off for many in light blue shirts. A summer clear out is expected, with Mancini possibly losing his job in the months ahead as well. With changes set to ring, this is an opportunity for players to show that they want to be part of the Manchester City set-up in the years ahead. It is also a chance for Mancini to show that, with Sir Alex Ferguson retiring from Manchester United, he has what it takes to create an era of domination for the blue half of the city. On the weekend Old Trafford says goodbye to Ferguson, Mancini can ensure that the Citizens have double cause for celebration.
Priorities Unclear For Wigan As Relegation Fears Mount
Wigan Athletic will step out for their first ever FA Cup final and in doing so become the first team to play in the final of every cup competition at all levels of English professional football. The omens will not be good for the Latics however; five teams have appeared in the final in the same season as being relegated from the top flight. All five lost in the final.
Wigan have been hit by an untimely injury crisis, with their key defenders, Maynor Figueroa, Ivan Ramis and Antolin Alcaraz all missing for the relegation run-in and this cup final. They have also lost Jean Beausejour, a prolific creator from the left flank, and his absence will be felt.
This game will be particularly poignant for the Wigan owner, Dave Whelan, who has put so much money into his beloved club to get them where they are today. Whelan was in the Blackburn team which lost in the 1960 final, a match in which he broke his leg and effectively saw his career end. But Wigan may well be distracted by the relegation fight they are in. After years of being written off as relegation certainties, this season everyone has put their faith in the Houdini artists to get themselves out of trouble. Yet three points adrift with two games left and a huge game away to Arsenal on Tuesday, mean that they may just choose to prioritise that game over the cup final; which would be a shame, albeit understandable.
Recent form
Manchester City:
Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United (27/04; Premier League)
Swansea City 0-0 Manchester City (04/05; Premier League)
Manchester City 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (07/05; Premier League)
Wigan Athletic:
Wigan Athletic 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (27/04; Premier League)
West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Wigan Athletic (04/05; Premier League)
Wigan Athletic 2-3 Swansea City (07/05; Premier League)
Key absences
Manchester City: Maicon (doubt); Scott Sinclair; Yaya Toure
Wigan Athletic: Ronnie Stam (doubt); Jean Beausejour; Maynor Figueroa; Ivan Ramis; Antolin Alcaraz
Players to watch
Manchester City – Yaya Toure: The man who struck the winner in the 2011 final against Stoke City has a knack for finding the target on the biggest stages. Toure, like most of his team-mates, has failed to shine as brightly as he did last season but still retains the ability to dance through opponents with neat footwork and his imposing frame. Against a tippy-tappy Wigan side his combination of power and technique could prove the difference.
Wigan Athletic – Shaun Maloney: The Scot has been Wigan’s star performer in recent weeks as they have attempted their annual escape from relegation. It was he who struck that wonderful free-kick at QPR and Maloney has been setting up goals aplenty for his team-mates. His superb technical ability and fighting spirit make him the epitomy of all that is good about this Wigan team. If anyone is going to win this game for them, it is Maloney.
Match Prediction
What is so interesting about this game is that Wigan Athletic, in the relegation zone still in the Premier League, have dominated Manchester City in both league games they have played this season. Yet Manchester City won both games. In fact Mancini’s men have beaten Wigan in each of their last seven meetings without conceding a single goal.
It is hard to see that changing this weekend. Whereas Wigan have relegation fears to distract them, Manchester City can focus exclusively on the FA Cup as their season winds down. The Citizens have shown this season that whilst they may lack consistent focus, when they have had a big game they have been able to showcase their best form. Their defence has been solid of late, although their attack has hardly been prolific.
This game should see plenty of possession football and it may well be rather even. Wigan may lack key players but the centre of the pitch remains as strong as ever, with James McCarthy and James MacArthur alongside Maloney providing plenty of skill and spirit. Wigan may well find the target – and something has to go for them against Manchester City after their displays against last season’s champions this campaign. But shorn of so many key players Wigan’s’ defence was shown up against Swansea in the week, and Manchester City’s quality should ensure that they eventually claim their second FA Cup in three years, and fifth overall. Manchester City 2-1 Wigan.
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