Treble is Manchester United's gem — now they have a chance to defend him against Man City

Erik ten Hag and his team have a chance to deprive Manchester City of the treble. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan

June 3 marks one of the last FA Cup finals, arriving less than two weeks before the first Ashes Ball. It will also mean the most tantalizing clash in living memory: the 190th Manchester derby clash, but the first to determine the destination of English football's oldest trophy. Add to that the fact that United could potentially strip Manchester City of the treble, a feat that only they have accomplished in its purest form, and you have a hot dish recipe that would fit an inappropriate midsummer schedule.

It's tempting to wonder what will stir United's blood more in this most important of finals: the prospect of a national cup double in Erik ten Hag's first season, or the possibility of stopping their noisy neighbors from crowing so loudly? Pep Guardiola can hardly be seduced by any kind of turf war narrative, preferring the cute phrase: «Neighbors are always kind to each other.» But not June 3rd. Not when United have a precious chance to silence the nouveau riche upstarts. And certainly not when they advocate exceptional distinction, as they are the sole architects of the most elusive trinity of all.

The reason high frequencies resonate so deeply is because they are vanishingly rare. In the major European leagues over the past 30 years, this has only been done six times: once by United and Inter, and twice by Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Guardiola was at the helm for the first time at Barcelona in 2009 and was so intoxicated by the feat that he had no idea what he could come up with for an encore.

"I can't do anything to get over it" Guardiola said after a Lionel Messi-inspired victory over United in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome. "We are very happy; delirious. We realize we've done something great.» It took 14 years for Guardiola, torn from the comforts of home at the Camp Nou, to materialize again with a chance to repeat to prove that he can still reach the same dizzying level that he achieved in his native Catalonia with a team for the ages. But how poetic that United is standing in his way.

The mere mention of 1999, the year that won the treble, evokes a surge of nostalgia at Old Trafford like no other. The immortal lines of Clive Tyldesley on the evening of May 26 reached their climax: “Can Manchester United score? They always score" and "Is this their moment?" — take all the pyrotechnics of that campaign back in time: Roy Keane's show of strength in Turin, an 8-1 win over Nottingham Forest, Ryan Giggs ripping off his shirt after perhaps the greatest goal in the FA Cup.

< p >And this is the moment of the city? There are too many hurdles, at least eight league games and a European semi-final against Real Madrid, to overcome before we get a definitive answer. But if this "moment" in general, the only certainty is that United would want nothing more than to sabotage this.Ryan Giggs' a goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal helped them win the treble. Photo: Getty Images/Matthew Peters

Based on this testimony, few will give them a prayer in their quest to disrupt the City's parade. United were a pale imitation of the &#399 class as they tried to make their way past Brighton here in the torrential April showers. Even in the penalty shoot-out, David de Gea didn't come close to parrying any of Brighton's six shots until Solly March launched his high shot into the Wembley sky. Two moments in extra time revealed United's limitations: the first when Marcel Sabitzer hit a free-kick from a hopelessly long promising position, the second when Luke Shaw sent the ball straight into Robert Sanchez's hands. While the '99 team was determined to take advantage of such chances of death, this version upset them both.

However, Ten Hag's success in two Wembley finals in four months should not be ridiculed. Despite the conspicuous shortcomings of his side, and despite the cleansing that is no doubt expected this summer, he has emboldened them under pressure. With the exception of last week's setbacks in Seville, he has built a team, even one with many flaws, that can hold its own when silver beckons. And he instilled a mindset where the importance of beating City is not lost on anyone. He already boasts one victory over Guardiola this year and his drive to strip City of the treble remains unwavering.

Even Glenn Murray, the former Brighton striker, says a lot about the magnitude of this FA Cup final. , recognizes that the world will be watching. For this is one coincidence, the storylines of which are sold on their own. City have taken so much that United could once call them: league dominance, attacking style, the feel of an unusually headstrong manager building a dynasty. But a treble is a gem that the red half of Manchester will do anything to protect from being plundered.