Manchester United and Tottenham will need extra-time to set FA Cup semifinal
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The FA Cup is down to its last four teams, and Manchester United and Tottenham will contest the first semifinal from Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils go into the semifinal in tatters.
Despite winning against Bournemouth in midweek, the club suffered a humiliating home loss to bottom side West Brom the weekend prior.
The biggest headlines coming out of Old Trafford regard Jose Mourinho's cup semifinal team selection. Mourinho has been critical of his stars of late and Manchester United's senior veteran players have had to have a sit-down talk with Paul Pogba over his behaviour. With the vulnerability Manchester United have shown in recent weeks, the Red Devils could suffer at the hands of Tottenham on Saturday.
Mourinho dropped star players Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic to the bench against Bournemouth. Sanchez didn't feature during the game and the Chilean is not guaranteed a place in the Red Devils' first XI on Saturday. Mourinho has stated there are three players that are certain to be in the starting XI. Lukaku, Matic and veteran right-back Antonio Valencia are all guaranteed a spot in Mourinho's team. The other places still have question marks around them.
Pogba did put in a rare man of the match performance in midweek, and it is likely Mourinho will select the Frenchman against Spurs.
Tottenham go into the FA Cup semifinal with an edge. This season has seen Spurs play all of their home matches at Wembley. Although the team will not have its full set of home supporters in attendance, the players will be familiar with the Wembley pitch. Spurs have only lost twice at Wembley in the Premier League. On Manchester United's last visit to play Spurs at the stadium, Tottenham throttled the Red Devils, 2-0. Spurs used a first minute goal to completely take Mourinho's team out of the game.
Tottenham have lost all seven of their most recent FA Cup semifinal matches. Spurs have not won the cup since 1991 and for a club the size of Spurs, it is time the team won another trophy. The team's losing streak of seven FA Cup semifinal matches is the longest in the tournament.
Tottenham have won three of the clubs' last five meetings. Harry Kane has been difficult for the Red Devils to stop; and Spurs have heavily relied on Kane this term. Without his goals saving Tottenham at times, the club would be outside the top four.
Spurs' defender Toby Alderweireld will miss the FA Cup semifinal due to injury. Manchester United are expected to have all players healthy and available except Sergio Romero.
Manchester United and Tottenham are so evenly matched going into this FA Cup semifinal that the tie will finish the full 90 minutes in a deadlock. The clubs will need extra-time to sort out which team goes through to the final.
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