Why the FA Cup final is important to Chelsea, Man Utd and Newcastle

Everything changes if Manchester United, who finished 31 points behind Manchester City in the league, produce a surprise and win the FA Cup.

The Red Devils would play in the Europa League, Chelsea in the Conference League and Newcastle would miss out.

But it’s a big if.

City have won six of the past seven meetings between the two sides – including last season’s FA Cup final – scoring 21 times and conceding eight.

The last time United failed to play in Europe was the 2014-15 season, after they finished seventh the season before.

Since then they have reached two Europa League finals, defeating Ajax in the final to win it under Jose Mourinho in 2017 and finishing runners-up to Villarreal under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021.

“I’m not thinking about a negative scenario,” said Ten Hag, when asked about United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.

“We have the opportunity to qualify for the Europa League, and it is in our own hands so we need to go for it.

“I’m thinking positive. I’m a positive man and it’s in our own hands, so we have to go for it.”