FA Youth Cup Final: Man City reject Man Utd’s offer to host the match

Manchester City will host their FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United at the smaller Joey Stadium on May 14 after rejecting an offer to switch to Old Trafford.

City drew at home for the game but could not use the original pitch, with Pep Guardiola’s first team still in place Three home Premier League games will be played.

While there is an 11-day gap between their match against Crystal Palace and the final game of the campaign against Aston Villa, club officials argue that playing the final at that venue will waste time needed to complete construction work on their North Stand, which is planned to open for Villa’s visit.

The club also has a test event booked for May 20. They feel they are entitled to not agree to a change as they are the guaranteed home team.

United, who last won the trophy in 2022 – when more than 60,000 people beat Nottingham Forest to watch a team including Kobi Mainu and Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford – have told City they are ready to host the game.

City said no, so the game will be played at the 7,000-capacity ground, which is used by the club’s Premier League 2 and women’s teams.

The club has previously used the stadium to host Youth Cup finals but since 2000, every other host club has played the game at their home stadium.

Two years ago 20,000 spectators saw City beat Leeds United in the final at the Etihad Stadium.

It was a repeat of the 1986 final, which was played over two legs at Old Trafford and Main Road, and was won by City.

United sources feel this is a mistake and most players will have to miss out on what could be the biggest game of their lives.