City are the only team to have done it twice, in 2018 and 2019.
On Saturday 3 June, Wembley Stadium will host a historic FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United. The stakes are high for both sides, with local bragging rights and a rare double on the line. For Manchester City, a win would mean they are just two games away from achieving a Treble – a feat achieved by only one other club in English football – Manchester United. United, on the other hand, are determined to keep their historic 1999 achievement to themselves.
The importance of ‘stopping the Treble’ has been made clear by former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and Gary Neville. United manager Erik ten Hag has promised that his team will “give everything” to stop City’s bid for greatness. For United fans, stopping City is almost as important as their own cup double – having already won the Carabao Cup.
United have been in this position before. In 1977, they faced a Liverpool side who had won the league and had a European Cup final to follow four days after the FA Cup final. United won 2-1 at Wembley to end Liverpool’s Treble hopes.
City know they are on the verge of true greatness if they win the FA Cup. With just four trebles of various make-ups in the history of English men’s football, they have already become the only English men’s team to win a domestic treble of league, FA Cup and League Cup in 2019.
However, with all the talk about trebles, it would be easy to forget the ‘double’ that is also up for grabs for both teams at Wembley on Saturday. History suggests it is an achievement not to be sniffed at. In 2019, City became the first side to win the FA Cup and the Premier League in the same season since Chelsea did it in 2009-10 and they are only the eighth club to do so. Their Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea in February 2019 meant they became only the fourth club to hold the League Cup and the FA Cup simultaneously – with Liverpool adding their name to that particular roll of honour last season. The other teams to achieve it are Chelsea (2006-07), Arsenal (1992-93) and Liverpool (2000-01). Manchester United could join that list on Saturday. And there have been only 10 instances of a side winning the English top flight and League Cup in history. City are the only team to have done it twice, in 2018 and 2019.
Whoever lifts the FA Cup on Saturday will have even more to celebrate than usual. The match will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app; with full commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text coverage on BBC Sport website. It all makes for some cup final.