Manchester United fans are getting the feeling of deja vu as Sir Alex Ferguson’s treble-chasing squad (6/1 to win Premier League, FA Cup & Champions League) prepare to face rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.
The Red Devils, who scooped all three major trophies in 1999, will have to play at the remodelled ‘home of football’ three times in the next six weeks if they are to repeat their historic feat while neighbours City would be happy to earn one more trip back as they bid to end a trophyless drought of 35 years (11/5 Manchester City in FA Cup Outright).
Ferguson has got the unshakeable belief that his class of 2011 can do it, while the presence of ‘99 veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs can only enhance the confidence within the dressing room that has been recently buoyed by the return to fitness of Rio Ferdinand.
The England centre back has never won the FA Cup and is desperate to keep his place in the United line-up, despite picking up a knock in Tuesday night’s Champions League win over Chelsea.
Ferguson has declared an almost fully-fit squad for the Wembley clash with only Darren Fletcher (virus) and Wayne Rooney (suspended) absent from those regulars who would have certainly played.
Dimitar Berbatov (11/2 First Goalscorer), who missed the decisive penalty as United crashed out to Everton at this stage two years ago, will probably be given a chance to earn his redemption by Ferguson, although the Bulgarian’s 20 Premier League goals so far this term have already done that for most fans.
Antonio Valencia (10/1) is another anticipated change to the midweek line-up while ferguson hinted that midfielder Anderson is back in his plans after coming through an hour of reserve team action on Wednesday night.
City are without 19-goal leading scorer Carlos Tevez after he sustained an untimely hamstring injury against Liverpool on Monday night, leaving boss Roberto Mancini with a dilemma over who he entrusts with the task of leading the forward line.
Out of form January signing Edin Dzeko (15/2 First Goalscorer) was jeered by City fans at Anfield as he struggled to get into the game while unpredictable summer recruit Mario Balotelli (7/1) still flatters to deceive more often than not.
Mancini can recall defender Micah Richards and you can bet Nigel de Jong starts after inexplicably being left out on Monday.
The Dutchman’s presence in midfield will ensure City have some bite and presence in an area where they were steamrollered by Liverpool in the first half.
History shows that there tend to be few goals when these two sides meet – the scorelines have been 2-1, 3-1, 0-1, 0-0 and 2-1 since Mancini took charge with City winning his first derby at the helm.
And with no Rooney or Tevez to provide a flash of brilliance to break the deadlock a half-time draw (8/5 0-0 in HT Score) and a low scoring affair (4/6 Under 2.5 Goals) look highly likely.
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