Gary Neville has voiced his opinion that Pep Guardiola made a significant error during the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United.
In a match that ended with Manchester United defeating Manchester City 2-1, the Citizens’ hopes of securing a domestic double were dashed. Despite their recent triumph in clinching their fourth consecutive Premier League title, City could not replicate their success in the FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium last weekend.
At halftime, Manchester City found themselves trailing 2-0. Although they managed to net a goal in the second half, it was insufficient to overturn United’s lead. As the dust settled on the Premier League season, Neville, a former Manchester United player and now a commentator, highlighted a key tactical misstep by Guardiola during the match.
In the latest issue of The Overlap’s newsletter, Neville analyzed the preparations and strategies of both managers ahead of the final. He particularly praised United’s midfield setup, noting, “The midfield box featuring Kobbie Mainoo, Sofyan Amrabat, Scott McTominay, and Bruno Fernandes was formidable and difficult to penetrate.”
Neville continued, “Having Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane back in defense also provided a significant boost. Recently, there have been signs that City struggles with densely populated midfields. Real Madrid, Arsenal, and even Tottenham have frustrated them with such tactics, despite varying results.”
Reflecting on the game, Neville asserted, “I believe Guardiola made a critical mistake with his starting lineup on Saturday. The choice to start Mateo Kovacic over Jeremy Doku was a misjudgment that allowed United to establish control early in the game. When Doku was introduced in the second half, City’s attacking pressure intensified significantly, especially during his duel with Aaron Wan-Bissaka.”
Doku, who had played the entire match when City secured their Premier League title against West Ham United, was notably left out of the starting eleven for the FA Cup final. In that decisive Premier League match, Doku had delivered an impressive performance, recording three key passes, two shots on target, and successfully completing five out of ten dribbles.
Despite coming on as a substitute in the second half of the FA Cup final, Doku still made a notable impact. He scored City’s only goal of the match, made two key passes, and completed three of his five dribble attempts. In contrast, Kovacic’s performance was underwhelming; he did not register any key passes or shots in the first half, underscoring Neville’s argument about Guardiola’s selection error.
Neville concluded that Doku’s influence on the game was markedly greater than that of Kovacic, reinforcing his belief that Guardiola’s decision not to start the Belgian winger was a miscalculation. This analysis elucidates why Neville is convinced that Guardiola’s tactical choices, particularly regarding player selection, were pivotal in City’s defeat in the FA Cup final.