Gary Neville has admitted he’ll be watching Saturday’s Manchester derby FA Cup final ‘from behind the sofa’ instead of at Wembley.
For the second successive year, Manchester United go in as underdogs against all-conquering Manchester City.
Old Trafford legend turned pundit Neville might be expected to be at the national stadium either as part of broadcaster coverage or a United supporter.
But he revealed to The Overlap that he’ll be watching from home this year.
‘I’m going to be watching from behind the sofa,’ he told Roy Keane and Ian Wright, who will be there on ITV’s coverage.
Gary Neville has revealed he won’t be at Wembley for Saturday’s FA Cup final with Manchester United again massive underdogs against rivals Manchester City
United and City fans stream down Wembley Way ahead of Saturday’s anticipated showpiece
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‘Do you know something, I went last year and I didn’t enjoy it. It was hard work getting into the stadium, hard work getting out back to the car park.
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‘I ran into a couple of City fans on the way out… I just thought, ‘no, I just want to watch it.’
Wright quipped the mocking City fans ‘have spoilt it for you’ before Neville quickly changes the subject to ask whether Pep Guardiola’s squad enjoyed a night out celebrating their Premier League title triumph last weekend.
‘They’re in great form but just for a couple of days it knocks you back a little bit,’ the former United defender argued as he searched for reasons for Erik ten Hag’s men to be optimistic.
Jamie Carragher comments: ‘This happens before every big game United play, he starts convincing himself!’
Keane then recounted how United’s players went out partying for several days after they won the league title in 1996 before beating Liverpool 1-0 in the FA Cup final to complete the Double.
This time it’s City going for the Double after they wrapped up the title ahead of challengers Arsenal last weekend.
Given Guardiola’s side finished a colossal 31 points ahead of United in the league, they are odds-on to repeat last season’s cup final success.
Neville admitted he had a run-in with jubilant City fans after they won last season’s final
Roy Keane and Ian Wright were on punditry duty for ITV ahead of the FA Cup final at Wembley
Erik ten Hag arrives at Wembley pre-match with his future as United boss in the balance
Two Ilkay Gundogan goals – the first after just 12 seconds – won City the second leg of their Treble, with Bruno Fernandes converting a penalty to equalise for United inbetween.
It looks increasingly likely Ten Hag will lose his job as United manager regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s final as part-owners Ineos consider their options.
United finished a lowly eighth in the Premier League standings – their lowest since 1990 – and failed in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
While the FA Cup may yet provide some salvation, Ten Hag’s fate could be similar to his fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal, fired despite United’s win over Crystal Palace in 2016.
