Manchester City will take on Port Vale in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium on January 4th and the League Two side are set to take over one end of the stadium with their enormous allocation. The Valiants will be given 8,000 seats and at just £10 per ticket, they are expected to bring an army with them.
The FA Cup may not be as glamorous as it once was but the whole romance of it is that the likes of Port Vale get to pit their wits against some of the very best in the game – even if it is for one afternoon only.
Will Man City retain the FA Cup this season?
Yes
No
TIF Tactics – A shift in priorities
City have won the famous old trophy six times in their history, most recently last season. With the Premier League leaders Liverpool seemingly out-of-sight in the race for the title, you can expect Pep Guardiola to perhaps prioritise the domestic cups in order to salvage his teams season.
There’s no doubt the clubs main focus will turn to the UEFA Champions League however after the Premier League the FA Cup remains the most prestigious of the domestic prizes available.
On paper, there’s only one winner however City will need to guard against complacency. This fixture will mean the world to not only the Port Vale players but also to the 8,000 or so expected to descend upon the Etihad Stadium. They will no doubt create an incredible atmosphere and will be right behind their team from the first whistle until the very end.