Soccer

The main talking points ahead of FA Cup final between Man Utd and Tottenham

Sunday’s final is the second year running United have reached the competition’s showpiece and a maiden major final for Spurs.

Tottenham and Manchester United will meet in the Women’s FA Cup final
Tottenham and Manchester United will meet in the Women’s FA Cup final (Steven Paston/PA)
By Rebecca Johnson, PA

A new Women’s FA Cup winner will be crowned when Manchester United face Tottenham at Wembley.

Sunday’s final is the second year running United have reached the competition’s showpiece and a maiden major final for Spurs.

Neither side has won the competition before and here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the key talking points ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

Manchester United return

Manchester United reached their second FA Cup final in historic fashion after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the semi-final. Victory was United’s first win over the Blues since the team’s inception in 2018 and saw them reach back-to-back finals. Sunday will see them aim to go one better than last year, when they were defeated by Emma Hayes’ side at Wembley.

Is the pressure on Marc Skinner?

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has faced some criticism
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has faced some criticism (Martin Rickett/PA)

United boss Skinner has faced criticism this season for his team’s performances and their position in the league table. Last season the club came within touching distance of a maiden Women’s Super League title, eventually finishing two points behind Chelsea, who clinched victory on the final day. This season United are currently lingering in fifth after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, who leapfrogged them into fourth, but an FA Cup victory could ease the heat on Skinner as he aims to lead the team to their first piece of major silverware.

Tottenham’s first major final

Martha Thomas’ late header sent Tottenham to Wembley
Martha Thomas’ late header sent Tottenham to Wembley (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Spurs reached their first major final in style with a late winner against Leicester in the semi-final. With the score level at 1-1 in extra time, former United forward Martha Thomas headed home in the 118th minute to earn a 2-1 victory for Spurs. A place in the final is a reflection of a positive season for Spurs, who have already improved on last season’s ninth-placed finish in the league and points haul with two games to go. Under manager Robert Vilahamn in his debut season with the club, Spurs are currently sixth in the table and 10 points better off than last season with 28 accumulated so far.

Usual suspects absent

This year’s competition is the first in almost 20 years without either Manchester City, Arsenal or Chelsea featuring in the final. The Blues ran out as victors for a third straight year last season, beating United 1-0 to earn their fifth FA Cup. The last time an FA Cup final was contested without at least one of that aforementioned trio playing came in 2005 when Charlton beat Everton 1-0.

Second successive sellout

This year’s FA Cup final is the second year running that Wembley will be sold out. Last season 77,390 fans watched Chelsea beat United, smashing the previous best tally for a women’s club match of 60,739 set when Atletico Madrid hosted Barcelona in 2019. The FA confirmed last month that Sunday’s showpiece will be another sold-out occasion.