City are celebrating an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight crown and will become the first team to win the league and FA Cup in successive seasons if they beat United at Wembley.
Guardiola’s men will start as hot favourites against United, who have lost six out of their past seven meetings in all competitions against their fierce rivals and finished a lowly eighth in the Premier League. Ten Hag is fighting to avoid the sack after United’s woeful campaign, with England coach Gareth Southgate and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna among a host of managers linked with the Old Trafford job in recent weeks.
But Guardiola has sympathy for Ten Hag after his second season in charge was marred by injuries to a host of key players. “In the big clubs like United and City, when you don’t win you are always in trouble. That’s not a secret,” Guardiola said.
“I have a huge respect for his job in the past, and now in United. I completely agree when I listen to him say they have not had a full squad – lots of injuries. They have a lot of problems and when that happens the manager suffers a lot because the squad is really good. The problem when you are injured you cannot use them and this (is) a big, big disadvantage.”
Guardiola said despite his team’s recent impressive record against United, he would not take them lightly in a repeat of the FA Cup final won 2-1 by City last season. “United is always United,” he said. “Of course in the Premier League, we have been better than them, we are more consistent than them. But one game, especially United this season against top six, important games, (they) always perform well so we spoke, the players feel it, the players know it – that will be a completely different game.”
Guardiola said the chance to win more silverware was enough motivation for him, regardless of the opportunity to make history by winning another double.
Man United to sack Ten Hag even if they win FA Cup: reports
Meanwhile, British media on Friday reported United will sack ten Hag after the FA Cup final against Manchester City regardless of the result at Wembley. The Guardian newspaper said the Premier League club had decided to take the ruthless step after a dismal season.
If Ten Hag’s two-year reign does end following the City clash, his exit would provoke memories of fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford departure. Van Gaal was fired just two days after United’s FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace in 2016.
Ten Hag has been the subject of intense speculation over his future, months after British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe took a minority stake in the club and assumed control of football operations. United insist no decision has been made on the Dutchman’s future and say a full review will take place after Saturday’s showpiece against the Premier League champions, who are chasing their second straight league and FA Cup double.
The club have been linked with a list of names including Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, England’s Gareth Southgate and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who has previously coached at Old Trafford.
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