Erling Haaland can be the key to win the FA Cup final … but not necessarily for Manchester City.
Crystal Palace goes to Wembley to win their very first trophy that reached the final in 1990 and 2016.
On both occasions they lost from Manchester United in nail biting games.
But they hope to use their shape in the late season to take glory from a different side of Manchester, this time city, in the midst of their worst season under Pep Guardiola.
The eight times Premier League champions are stimulated by the return of Fit-Again Haaland.
But could that be more a problem than a solution for Guardiola?
Sunssport's Dean Scoggins continues why Haaland's comeback in the capital could be the benefit of the Eagles.
Will Man City be forced to change their shape for Haaland?
Yes, they will.
When you play with a false nine, whether that is Phil Foden or Omar Marmoush or anyone else, Pep plays in a different way.
What I expect to see is Haaland as the goalkeeper and the city trying to create a triangle of him.
We talked about this in earlier shows, where you have Marmoush one side and maybe Foden or De Bruyne in an area where they then pass by.
This is actually where Palace hope that City will change their formation to fit with Haaland.
It will benefit them because their defenders will be a little more free.
The right center-back, maybe Maxence Lacroix and the left center-back are Marc Guehi, they may be a little more free and on the ball when the midfield players do their work.
So that is why, if City drives up their wing players, those center-backs can cover and the rest of the team get the freedom in the other way.
Ebereechi Eze Key for Crystal Palace
That is when they try to make Eze free … And it sounds ridiculous, but I think it may really fit Palace like Haaland.
Yes, he is a target threat, but in the open game it gives you that option to help the game move forward.
In the match in the Etihad earlier this season, Palace pushed their full-backs right to Man City … If they do that in this game, they will get in areas where he is the most dangerous.
And if the ball goes directly to him, he can cause a real problem that goes the other way.
So what is the verdict?
It is a difficult one, because in one way you naturally have to defend against Haaland and he is the best striker in the Premier League …
But from a tactical perspective, if you can trust a center-back to do it 1V1, it actually gives you the option to charge the other way.
We have seen it in matches against Liverpool, where Virgil van Dijk did it and Ibrahima Konate did it – and we saw it in a Manchester United game where Harry Maguire did it because he wants to play that combative way.
I am not saying that Haaland is not going to score and Man City will not be ridiculously dangerous.
But if Palace gets their transition from defense to attack, they can eventually get in the position they want him.
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