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Manchester United have been branded a ‘village team’ by supporters after their FA Cup starting XI appeared to be leaked on social media hours before kick-off.
Leaking team news has been a problem all season and it is something that key figures at United are trying to get to grips with.
But ahead of a crucial FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, 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 is claimed that Rasmus Hojlund, who started the last two games against Newcastle United and Brighton on the bench, will start, while Sofyan Amrabat will start in midfield ahead of Casemiro.
Although nothing official had been announced about Ten Hag’s team, many United fans were furious that fellow supporters were endangering the club by ‘leaking’ the team early.
Several fan accounts on social media claim to ‘leak’ Erik ten Hag’s cup final
Many Man United supporters were completely unimpressed by the unverified ‘leaks’
“FA Cup final day and muppets like this are trying to leak the whole team to get a few likes on Twitter,” said Matthew Jones, in response to a post claiming that Bruno Fernandes will start on the wing and Amrabat on the defensive midfield.
“We are run like a village club,” wrote another disappointed fan.
Prominent Man United influencer Mark Goldbridge claimed to have spotted the team as early as lunchtime on Friday.
“Leaking the team the night before is a bit of a week tbh (to be honest),” Goldbridge wrote.
‘Yes, players leak it, but that doesn’t mean journalists have to do that.
‘Many of us have known about the leak since yesterday afternoon, but understand that it is a cup final ffs.’
A return to fitness for a number of players gives Ten Hag more selection options, something he says is a ‘luxury’ problem.
One account on
Accounts like ‘UTDCredit’ claim that Rasmus Hojlund will return to United’s starting line-up
United will certainly face Manchester City without Harry Maguire, who is missing through injury.
Maguire has missed the last four games with a muscle problem and Ten Hag confirmed ‘it didn’t heal as expected’. That means Lisandro Martinez will partner Raphael Varane in central defense against City at Wembley after both players recovered from injury.
United also expect Mason Mount, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof to be available after all three players return to training this week.
Maguire has not started for any of the four cup finals United have reached during his time at the club. He missed two through injury and started the other two on the bench.
Ten Hag added: ‘Harry Maguire is not available, but otherwise all the players you mentioned are available. Last training tomorrow and then we will make the final decisions, but as I see it now it looks good (for Mount, Martial and Lindelof and Martial).”