Roll up, roll up, the EFL Cup Final is almost here, and by the time the sun sets on Sunday we’ll know who is the first victor in the battle for English silverware this season.
Southampton and Manchester United will face off at Wembley as they compete for the trophy, and it’s fair to say that this is a massive game for both teams – which is why it’s our Fixture in Focus here are FootballFanCast.
Claude Puel’s Saints have risen up through the divisions of English football, losing managers and key players on an almost annual basis, so claiming a trophy would really be testament to the well-run nature of the Hampshire club, while Man United will be desperate to secure just their second trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2013 departure. Jose Mourinho himself is a veteran when it comes to winning the League Cup with three victories on his CV from his Chelsea days, so he knows all about getting over the line and the advantages it brings, which could be vital.
In the build-up to this intriguing tie we asked Southampton fans which Manchester United players they would like to have most in a purely hypothetical exercise, and here are the top THREE…
3) Eric Bailly
In at No.3 we have summer addition, Bailly. The Ivorian has had his injury issues since arriving in England, but the former Villarreal man has really impressed following his big money switch, with his pace and brute strength well-suited to the Premier League’s style of play. Given their injury woes, Saints fans would clearly love to have the commanding centre-back in their camp heading to Wembley.
2) Marcus Rashford
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s fine start to life in England, Rashford has been somewhat forgotten. The pacey striker was, arguably, the standout performer in what was an underwhelming 2015/16 for Manchester United, but Mourinho has been reluctant to thrust him into his XI with regularity. However, the 19-year-old has still impressed when called upon this term, and, interestingly, a move to Southampton actually makes real sense. One to think about for all involved ahead of this summer…
1) David de Gea
Even though Fraser Forster has been a big hit at St Mary’s Stadium, Saints fans would love to have De Gea between the sticks in Hampshire. The Spaniard is one of the finest goalkeeper on the planet, with his shot-stopping second to none – we cannot imagine where they club would have finished last season without him.
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