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Manchester United will meet Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-final in just over two weeks time.
Early team news isn’t something usually given away by managers leading up to such an important game but Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has already confirmed one of his starters.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez will start between the sticks at Wembley, despite losing his place in recent Premier League games to Jason Steele.
However, Sanchez did play in the quarter-final win over Grimsby Town and De Zerbi says he will play against United.
“Jason is a fantastic player for me, for my idea. But Robert is not a problem for us. Man United in the FA Cup, Robert will play 100%,” the Brighton boss was quoted as saying by The Athletic.
Interestingly, Sanchez has been picked ahead of United No 1 David de Gea in recent Spanish national team squads.
The pair will be going head-to-head at the end of the month with De Gea sure to start barring an injury or suspension.
United will be looking to pick up some momentum in the coming weeks after suffering defeat in the first game back after the international break away to Newcastle.
Next, The Reds face back-to-back Premier League home games against Brentford and Everton respectively, before entertaining Sevilla in the first-leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
United then travel to relegation battlers Nottingham Forest in the league before travelling to Seville to decide their European fate three days before the FA Cup semi-final.
Brighton, on the other hand, only have to navigate their three league games before meeting United and will have a full week’s rest in the build-up.
Erik ten Hag will be hoping for a good run to build confidence before taking on De Zerbi’s men.
If United were to go to Wembley after knocking out Sevilla, it would bring back memories of the Carabao Cup final, which United walked into after dispatching Barcelona in Europe just days before.
United produced an impressive controlled display against Newcastle that afternoon and Ten Hag will be desperate for history to repeat itself on all fronts at the end of the month.
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