Man City player confirmed to start FA Cup Final as Erik ten Hag addresses ‘last game’ question on Man United star

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start the FA Cup Final against Manchester United on Saturday.

Ortega, 30, has started each of City’s five FA Cup games in the lead-up to the final, keeping clean sheets in all fixtures, and again keeps his spot ahead of first-choice Ederson.

“Yeah he’s going to play. It’s always been the same in the cups, even with Barcelona and Munich, so he’s going to play in the FA Cup,” said the City manager on Friday afternoon.

United will not be expecting an easier match with the German in net as he’s proven to be a solid understudy at the Etihad Stadium this term.

Meanwhile, United have injury troubles at the other end of the field with both Anthony Martial and Antony possibly out for the final. The club confirmed earlier this week that the French striker would be unavailable after picking up another injury against Fulham, whilst the Brazilian is ‘unlikely’ to appear, according to Erik ten Hag.

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are certain to start in the front three for The Reds, but a third spot opens up for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes to move into.

Weghorst, 30, has scored just twice in his loan stint at Old Trafford so far but a goal in the FA Cup final against City would confirm cult hero status even if he does not extend his stay at the club, which seems likely.

When asked if the cup final will be the Dutch striker’s last game in United red, Ten Hag was tight-lipped in his response.

“I don’t know. You can’t say that in this moment,” he replied. I”‘m not in this moment into transfer politics. I’m in to win this game and we will do everything. And I think Wout played very good for us, very good contribution to the team result. I think he did what we took him for.”