FA Cup: Manchester United take on Tottenham in the semis
20-time EPL champions Manchester United will have to produce their A game, when they face a resolute Tottenham Hotspur at the Wembley on Saturday. The FA Cup gives both sides the opportunity to win a trophy this season and the semi-final would be a blockbuster knock-out. This will be the third time that these two sides would face each other in this season.
Both teams would count on forward line
It would be a battle of forwards. That said, both the teams also have strong defensive units as seen in the Premier League. Therefore, the final passes will be key for the attacking quartet of both teams. United come from a victory against Bournemouth, as Spurs were held to a draw by Brighton.
When the sides met earlier this season
United and Spurs see a 1-1 record with both teams winning their home games and losing away ties in the Premier League. But the one-off encounter here is a different ball game altogether. Wembley will be set for a thriller.
Player focus- Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Romelu Lukaku with 27 goals across all competitions looks threatening for the Old Trafford unit. This game will be crucial for the Belgian. Lukaku has been in good form and would like to prove that he can perform in the big matches. On the other hand, Harry Kane will once again be the main threat Spurs will offer. Kane has 37 goals this season.
What have the managers said?
Jose Mourinho said that Spurs will not have an advantage at Wembley. He opined that despite the game being away, ManU would be comfortable. Mauricio Pochettino claims Premier League and Champions League are trophies that will add value to Spurs.
Stat attack- Man United vs Spurs
Both teams have faced each other 10 times in the FA Cup in the past and the record stands at 5-5. In their last three encounters in this tourney, United have won all three games. This would be Manchester United's 29th appearance in FA Cup semis. They are at par with Arsenal. Lukaku has scored in every FA Cup game for United this season.
