Deploy Wan-Bissaka to keep Grealish quiet, keep their cool in big moments and back Shaw to shackle Haaland AGAIN... what Man United MUST do to end City's hopes of a treble in the FA Cup final

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On Sunday, the message from Erik ten Hag was clear: Manchester United have what it takes to win the FA Cup and end Manchester City’s hopes of an historic treble.

There are, however, certain ingredients required for United to have any hope of triumphing at Wembley on Saturday.

Supporters must ‘have their back’. Players must hit ‘their levels’. And one Ten Hag chose not to mention – he must get his tactics right.

Back in October, United were humbled at the Etihad, where they were fortunate to suffer only a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.

Three months later, however, Ten Hag’s side toppled City at Old Trafford. It was a 2-1 win that hinged on a contentious offside decision but became a powerful statement in Ten Hag’s first season.

Here, Mail Sport looks at what lessons United learned from that defeat and victory and how they can end City’s hopes of a treble….

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks in a 6-3 win for Man City back in October 

Manchester United can learn lessons from that defeat as well as their 2-1 victory over City at Old Trafford in January (pictured) ahead of today's FA Cup final at Wembley

KEEP THEIR HEADS IN THE BIG MOMENTS

There can be no doubting that Bruno Fernandes’s controversial equaliser proved a turning point in United’s victory at Old Trafford. But that’s only because City allowed it to.

Guardiola’s side were ahead and on course for three crucial points. But with one offside call, the visitors became furious and frazzled. And then, before long, they were behind, too.

United caught City cold. Amid all the noise and emotion and fraying tempers and frantic scenes, City were overrun.

Now, Ten Hag cannot plan for such controversy or good fortune. But his players can prepare for dealing with those inflection points, when matches threaten to turn one way or another.

At Old Trafford, they grabbed that chance and profited from a slice of good fortune. They kept their cool while City heads became scrambled. In the white heat of Saturday’s final, similar chinks will appear and it will be up to both teams to deal with them.

Erik ten Hag's side kept their heads during the clash back in January, and both he and Guardiola will be determined to make sure their sides win the mental battle on Saturday

TRUST WAN-BISSAKA TO KEEP GREALISH QUIET?

Not long ago, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was slipping into the shadows. He had only survived the summer transfer window thanks to a lack of offers. His days at Old Trafford appeared numbered.

Since the turn of the year, however, the 25-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable rebirth, recapturing the right back spot from Diogo Dalot. 

It means that on Saturday, Wan-Bissaka is primed to face Jack Grealish in what could be a brilliant tussle between one of the form wingers in European football and one of the best one-on-one defenders in the Premier League.

Dalot would offer Ten Hag more attacking thrust but Wan-Bissaka’s greater discipline and tackling could help United shackle one of City’s prime threats. Grealish came on to score at Old Trafford in January. Can Wan-Bissaka keep him quieter this time round?

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has seen a return to form this season and is primed to face Jack Grealish in what could be a brilliant tussle between two players currently at the top of their game

STICK OR TWIST IN MIDFIELD?

Casemiro left a huge hole in United’s midfield when he started the 6-3 defeat on the bench. He predictably started the return fixture but Ten Hag still sprung a surprise by picking Fred, too. The two Brazilians played alongside one another at the back of United’s midfield - a combination United had used in only two Premier League games before then. And one Ten Hag has only turned to four times in the league since, too.

The advantages are obvious: both Fred and Casemiro can patrol those areas between the lines where City’s brilliant midfielders – Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva et al – love to find space and wreak havoc. The cost? One of United’s more attack-minded players must make way.

Interestingly, Ten Hag deployed Casemiro alongside Fred against Fulham on the final day. Will that serve as a dress rehearsal for this weekend?

Fred played alongside Casemiro against Fulham and the pair could be the best partnership to patrol Man City's array of brilliant midfielders

BACK SHAW TO SHACKLE HAALAND AGAIN?

There were no few raised eyebrows back in January, when Ten Hag picked Luke Shaw at centre back. 

It seemed to be a square peg in a round hole just as the Premier League’s deadliest forward rolled across town. But Shaw was immense as United triumphed and Erling Haaland drew a blank.

He has played there since, too, and the England international is one of a number of players to have hit new heights under their Dutch manager.

In recent games, the absence of Lisandro Martinez has seen Ten Hag pick Victor Lindelof alongside Raphael Varane, with Shaw at left back. 

Both Shaw and Varane started on the bench against Fulham, with Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia coming in. Both will return at Wembley but will they be beside each other at centre back? 

Shaw is such an asset on United’s left and his last two league appearances at centre back ended in defeat – against Brighton and West Ham. So it would surely be a bold move for Ten Hag to shift him back there for such a pivotal game.

Luke Shaw kept Erling Haaland quiet when the sides faced off at Old Trafford in January