FA CUP
Why isn’t Ederson playing against Manchester United in the FA Cup final?
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are without their first-choice goalkeeper as they face the Red Devils at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester City may have suffered Champions League disappointed against Real Madrid in their bid to claim back-to-back trebles, but they still have the chance to do the domestic double after clinching the Premier League title last weekend. On Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s side take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley, although they must face their derby rivals without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson.
Ederson forced off against Spurs: what injury does he have?
The Brazilian has long been City’s undisputed number one but has ended the season as a frustrated spectator after suffering a nasty injury in the penultimate league game of the season away to Tottenham Hotspur on 14 May.
Ederson fractured an eye socket in a collision with Spurs defender Cristian Romero in the second half, initially trying to play on before being substituted by Guardiola, much to his dismay.
Although the 30-year-old wanted to continue, the seriousness of the blow was discovered in the aftermath of the game in London and he was subsequently ruled out of last weekend’s title clincher against West Ham and the FA Cup final.
Stefan Ortega to start for City against United
That said, deputy Stefan Ortega started in every round of the FA Cup up until the final, and may well have been selected to play even if Ederson had been fit.
In a separate blow to the Brazilian, the injury has also seen him withdraw from the Brazil roster for the upcoming 2024 Copa América, which will be held in the United States from 20 June to 14 July. Liverpool’s Alisson Becker is usually Brazil’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Why isn’t Harry Maguire playing against Manchester City in the FA Cup final?
The Red Devils have had a huge number of injury issues to contend with throughout the season, although only three players are officially unavailable for the cup final - Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Left-backs Shaw and Malacia have been absent for some time, while Maguire has missed United’s last four matches because of a muscle problem, from which he has failed to recover.
Manager Erik Ten Hag, who looks likely to be sacked whatever the result at Wembley, does at least have fellow central defenders Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez at his disposal, although both have only just recovered from their own fitness issues.