Dwight Yorke says Man City treble talk premature, backs Man United to win FA Cup final
- United legend feels too many have written off his old club’s chances of causing upset in Saturday’s FA Cup final
- ‘Despite the fantastic form City are in, who’s to say United might just turn up and get a little bit of luck?’ Yorke says
Old Trafford legend Dwight Yorke has taken umbrage at what he sees at premature talk of Manchester City replicating Manchester United’s famed treble.
The 51-year-old Yorke was part of Alex Ferguson’s treble-winning side in 1998-99 that conquered at home and in Europe.
In the former striker’s eyes, too many fans, pundits and media members have already written off United’s chances of causing an upset on Saturday at Wembley when they face Premier League champions City, who will contest the Champions League final a week later against Inter Milan.
“They’ll be joining a group of the elite. But they’re not surpassing us – they’re joining what we achieved,” Yorke told the Post at Hong Kong Football Club at last weekend’s HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens, when asked if a City treble would stack up to United’s.
“I think people tend to forget that. They’re trying to put this City team on a pedestal like no other team has done it, that’s where the misperception is, from my perspective.
“We have done things that no other team has done, and they’re joining that group. I don’t want it to be glossed over like we haven’t done that.
“I think City deserve all the credit, and quite rightly so, they’re the modern team in the modern game and deserve all the plaudits that goes with it, I have no issue with that.
“But they’re not doing something we haven’t done, and until you do that, then it’s just not fair to be talking about it. There’s a strong possibility that they might not even win that, so then all the hype … why are we talking about it if they haven’t done it?
“Until you’ve done it then let’s just not have the debate. There’s people getting ahead of themselves here.”
Yorke said Erik Ten Hag had done a “fantastic” job in his first season at United, having steered them to third place and the League Cup in February, with the chance to make it a domestic double this weekend.
“Football is just a fickle thing. Despite the fantastic form that City are in, who’s to say that United might just turn up and get a little bit of luck?” Yorke added. “We’ve seen how many times luck plays a part in our sport. They might just have a lucky day and that could win you the FA Cup.
“It’s good for viewers and people who haven’t experienced being in those situations. You guys, the media, sell papers and the debate goes on. I get it. But until they do it I just don’t think it’s worth going on and on about it.
“Certainly there’s a strong possibility, and that’s where the focus should be on – don’t debate who’s good and who’s not, and who should get in this team or that team.
“All that debate can come at the end of it. They might just lose that one game. Why are we debating something that’s not happened?”
