“I hope they lose 5-0” – Former Ajax and Real Madrid star hits out at Manchester United’s Antony ahead of City final

Former Netherlands international star Wesley Sneijder has backed Manchester City to perform the ultimate demolition job on Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

City reached successive FA Cup finals over the course of the weekend thanks to a late strike from Bernardo Silva, who made the ultimate amends for his penalty shoot-out miss in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Manchester City were largely dominant over 90 minutes as they bounced back from the disappointment of the midweek European exit with a controlled performance against a Chelsea side that had caused them so many problems in previous encounters this season.

Manchester United on the other hand had a far less routine path to the final, having thrown away a 0-3 lead against Coventry to head into extra-time and penalties, before dismissing of the Championship outfit in a shoot-out.

That late victory for Erik ten Hag’s side has since been marred by the actions and criticism surrounding Brazilian forward Antony, who opted to cup his ears towards the Coventry players when the winning penalty was struck home for the Old Trafford side.

Speaking to Soccernews in the Netherlands, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, the former Ajax and Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder has blasted Manchester United’s Antony for his viral FA Cup semi-final behaviour against Coventry City.

“You then immediately walk off the field. Shame on you man,” Sneijder exclaimed, before going on to support Manchester City in performing the most dominant of FA Cup final victories. “I hope they (Manchester United) lose 5-0 to Manchester City in the final.”

Manchester City and Manchester United will go head-to-head in the FA Cup final on Saturday 25 May, with kick-off decided by the Football Association to be 3pm (UK), amid concerns over an early or late start at Wembley Stadium.

Before then, Manchester City will conclude their pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive English top-flight crown, as they continue their battle with Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.