Manchester United stars Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot pose for photos with fans after arriving at the team’s hotel in London ahead of the FA Cup final against Man City
Manchester United stars Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot mingled with fans after flying to London on Friday ahead of the FA Cup final.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Erik ten Hag’s team had been transported to Manchester Airport in MPVs with tinted windows.
Fans claimed the Dutchman was playing mind games with Manchester City by keeping his traveling squad a secret ahead of Saturday’s final at Wembley.
But several players mingled with fans near the team’s London hotel for a Friday afternoon training session.
Ten Hag sticks to his Wembley blueprint Manchester United go in search of a hat-trick of victories in the national stadium.
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho poses for a photo with a fan on Friday
Captain Harry Maguire was happy to sign autographs for young fans at the team hotel
United have already beaten Brighton on penalties to set up the first Manchester FA Cup final, and also won the Carabao Cup in February with a win over Newcastle.
Ten Hag follows the same plan as he tries to derail Manchester City’s attempt to complete the Treble.
United will fly to London on Friday and will stay in the same hotel and train at the same facilities beforehand.
As an away team, United will have to wear black shorts with their red shirts and black socks to avoid clashing with City’s first-choice blue and white colours.
But they will have the same dressing room as the previous two occasions, with United fans once again occupying the eastern half of Wembley.
Manchester City surprised by revealing backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start the historic cup final.
Defender Diogo Dalot also mingled with the fans at the team hotel in London
The Man United squad flew to London on Friday for the FA Cup final at Wembley
Reserve goalkeeper Jack Butland looked relaxed as United prepared for Saturday’s derby
Pep Guardiola confirmed that the German – who has started all domestic cup competitions so far this season – will take credit for Ederson at Wembley.
Ortega signed on a free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld and impressed Guardiola in his 13 appearances, creating more competition than Zack Steffen before him.
The 30-year-old has kept 10 clean sheets this season, although his qualification for the final is a big decision from the City boss after Steffen’s high-profile mistakes in last year’s semi-final defeat to Liverpool.
“He’s going to play,” Guardiola said. “I always liked that, even in Barcelona, the goalkeeper who played FA Cup [the final].’