Double double: Man City on cusp of setting unique English football record ahead of FA Cup final vs Man United
Manchester City could create history against Manchester United in the FA Cup final if they can achieve a ‘double double’
While breaking records is nothing new to Manchester City, they are once again faced with a huge opportunity to set a new milestone in the English game. Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side already reached new dizzying heights this season by becoming the first men’s club in English football history to win four top division titles in a row.
Man City can now look at fighting to secure another honour that no men’s club has ever done before. The Citizens are just one game away from achieving the domestic ‘double double’ award. Guardiola and his men will face off against neighbours and rivals Manchester United this afternoon in the final of the FA Cup.
The clash at Wembley could see City lift the trophy for the second consecutive season, completing the never-before-seen ‘double double’ in the men’s game. The elusive honour comes following one team’s completion of winning both the Premier League title and FA Cup in two consecutive seasons, and City won both trophies last year as part of their treble-winning 2022/23 season.
If City can beat United at Wembley, they will set yet another English football record as the first side in history to win the ‘double double’. This will be quite the achievement, considering only eight clubs in history have managed to win the Premier League and FA Cup together in one term, never mind back-to-back.
Which teams have won the domestic double?
While there is yet to be a club to win both honours in consecutive seasons, these famous sides have achieved the domestic double of the English top division and FA Cup titles.
Man United won the double on three occasions — not consecutively — under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1993/94, 1995/96 and 1998/99. Arsenal also achieved the honour three times, but their wins were considerably more spread out (1970/71, 1997/98, 2001/02).
City have won both the Premier League and FA Cup on two occasions (2018/19 and 2022/23) while Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Preston North End have all achieved it once.
Man City vs Man United
City are favourites to take home the glory this afternoon, having enjoyed a much stronger season than their rivals. Reports emerged earlier this week that Man United will sack manager Erik ten Hag regardless of his side’s result in Saturday’s final. The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League this season, returning the joint-lowest goal tally in the top ten (57), level with Crystal Palace and way behind City, who netted 96 goals in their title-winning run.