Before they face ferocious ʀɪᴠᴀʟs Manchester City on Saturday, all eyes will be on Manchester United’s pre-FA Cup final suits due to an intriguing color selection.
The stakes for Saturday’s FA Cup match between Manchester United and local ʀɪᴠᴀʟ Manchester City at Wembley Stadium could not be higher.
Since there is certainly no love lost between the bitter ʀɪᴠᴀʟs, it is somewhat sʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ to see United wearing City gear before their important matchup in the capital. The ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that Pep Guardiola’s team wears sky blue and United’s suits for the cup final are more of a navy color means that the suits aren’t totally in City colors.
However, wearing any shade of blue for United in the ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ game ᴡᴀʀ seems like a strange choice. City enters the contest hoping to duplicate United’s 1999 treble, which they hope to accomplish.
Although most of the conversation leading up to the game will focus on United’s attempts to prevent City from winning the treble, their pre-game clothing is almost certain to draw criticism.
Star-studded United players have already posed for pictures wearing the Paul Smith outfits. Casemiro, Alejandro Garnacho, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, three players who could be key figures in Saturday’s championship game, have been spotted donning the chic smartwear.
When it comes to FA Cup final suits, there is a history. More than 25 years after the 1996 final, Liverpool’s “Spice Boys” are still the target of light jabs.
Before their final match versus United, which they eventually lost 1-0, the Reds players, including Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, and Jamie Redknapp, all wore striking all-white Armani suits.
When the Liverpool players made their fashion statement, Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of the Red Devils, was in charge. If his most recent words are any indication, he definitely hasn’t forgotten about it.
Speaking to Sale Sharks before their Premiership rugby final against Saracens, the Scotsman made reference to the suits.
Ferguson remarked, “You don’t want to lose on Saturday, and I wish you the best.” The issue is, “I’m telling you, for Christ’s sake, don’t wear a white suit!”
In ꜰᴀᴄᴛ, United has been using the same suit manufacturer since 2008, when Ferguson was still the club’s manager and in charge of making decisions.
Over the past 15 years, Paul Smith has dressed United for some of their most important games, including multiple appearances in FA Cup finals and two Champions League finals.
During the 2017–18 campaign, while Jose Mourinho was still in charge, United played in its last FA Cup final. They faced Antonio Conte’s Chelsea at the time, who prevailed 1-0 thanks to an Eden Hazard penalty.
