- Erik ten Hag has named his starting XI for today’s FA Cup final at Wembley
- Anthony Martial is not involved, meaning his Man United career is now over
- Have Chelsea offered Manchester United a way out of the Erik ten Hag darkness through Mauricio Pochettino’s exit? – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast
Anthony Martial‘s Manchester United career is over after he was left out of the final game before his contract expires.
Erik ten Hag chose not to include the Frenchman in his FA Cup final squad and it means Martial, after nine years at Old Trafford, last played for United back in December.
Martial has been back in training but was not able to convince his manager for a place on the bench at Wembley as he was left out entirely.
Ten Hag has made a series of big calls for the Wembley showpiece, deciding to leave Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo out of his starting XI.
Sofyan Amrabat has got the nod in defensive midfield, while Marus Rashford and Raphael Varane, both of whom came off the bench against Brighton last weekend, are rewarded with starts.
Erik ten Hag has made some bold calls in what could be his final match in charge of United
Anthony Martial has been left out of the United matchday squad entirely, bringing an end to his nine-year career at Old Trafford as his contract is now weeks from its expiry
Hojlund has scored off the bench in his last two appearances but he continues on the bench, with Rashford in attack with Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
Initial suggestions put captain Fernandes is in a false nine role, a position he has played previously against Man City which could be behind the thinking today.
Earlier in the day, United were labelled a ‘village team’ by supporters after their FA Cup starting XI appeared to leak out on social media hours before kick-off.
The leaking of team news has been an issue all season and is something key figures at United have been trying to get to grips with.
The suggestion is that Bruno Fernandes will play as a false nine, a role he has played previously
But ahead of a crucial FA Cup final at Wembley, which represents United’s last chance to qualify for European football next season, prominent Man United social media fan channels began revealing team news.
It was detailed that Hojlund starts, which turned out to be wrong, while Sofyan Amrabat is in ahead of Casemiro in midfield.
‘FA Cup final day and muppets like this trying to leak the whole team to get a few likes on Twitter,’ fumed Matthew Jones, in response to a post claiming Fernandes is starting on the wing and Amrabat is in defensive midfield.
‘We’re being run like a village club,’ another disappointed fan wrote.
Man United XI: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Wan-Bissaka, Amrabat, Mainoo, McTominay, Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford
Man City XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland
