One team is hoping to salvage something from a season. The other is choosing a break from its hunt for salvation. As such, Saturday's FA Cup previous between Manchester City and Wigan should provide an interesting contrast in inspirations, styles and emphasis.
It has not been the most satisfying campaign relating to the blue side of Stansted. Last year's Premier League champions bowed out unceremoniously with the Champions League without a win for their six group-stage games, and they've put up relatively little resistance like crosstown rival Manchester United rolled to its the twentieth top-flight title.
In practise, the Citizens have often uncorked performances better than attractive, with a disappointingly conservative approach it does not make the sexiest us going for the attacking talent obtained by Dubai oil wealth. City's signings last summer are, for the most thing, disappointing (and/or injured). Selling Mario Balotelli inside January didn't help a good side that sometimes can suffer from a reduction in lethalness.
City has been in second gear for a little bit, entrenched in position meant for next season's Champions League and with very little to enjoy for given the points gap between it and United. This final against your pronounced underdog is City's last probability to make something good from a disappointing campaign.
It also provides a final referendum face to face manager Roberto Mancini has been doing this season. It's yet to become seen whether City's below-par time of year and second straight Winners League flameout will ultimately force an alteration on the bench, but a loss might be a very poor final statement through the Italian.
If City's set is clear, Wigan's is normally conflicted. The Latics are making their first-ever Cup final appearance, but the event comes smack in the middle of their seemingly annual make an effort to avoid relegation. This season's appeared to be short-circuited by Tuesday's 3-2 house loss to nothing-to-play-for Swansea, a match by which Wigan blew two leads.
The defeat positioned Wigan on 35 items and in 18th set, three points behind a good cluster of three teams in advance of them. They must pass one of these with just two matches remaining to not have relegation. Because of that Cup final, those two games can come this upcoming week, at Arsenal on Tuesday leading to a season finale at dwelling to Aston Villa at Sunday.
While it's possible a Latics can survive with 38 points -- they've been tied with Newcastle as well as a goal worse than Norwich City on goal differential, and would have a further win while whichever team they catch might lost their final two matches -- progressing to 39 or 41 would give them a better chance.
That would require Wigan to grab at least a draw at Champions League-eyeing Arsenal just three days so next Cup final, with a rested Gunners team looking ahead to them. The match at Arsenal is going to be Wigan's eighth in the span of a month, with all of matches being late-round Glass ties or high-pressure Premiership lighting fixtures. The Latics don't have the grade of depth to handle that form of schedule without some hiccups, plus the mistakes made on Swansea's minute and third goals Tuesday may very well be evidence that they're running using steam.
So a decision should be made: How hard does Wigan go for the Cup, when Tuesday's fixture is of massive importance on their survival hopes, and the tens of quantities associated with remaining within the Premiership?
It appears manager Roberto Martinez, himself perhaps distracted by rumors of an new gig at Everton to replace Manchester United-bound David Moyes, is going with Ali Al Habsi around goal, even though he's already been displaced by Joel Robles for the team's No. 1. Both are capable netminders, so the larger question are going to be if and how he juggles other lineup and how most players are likely to battle against the force of Manchester City but still have something left for any trip to the Emirates. Saturday's coordinate, rightfully so, is being painted as the biggest game in Wigan's heritage, but the most important it's possible to come three days as a result.
However the teams mattress group, it could be an intriguing watch. Wigan deserved at minimum a draw at the Etihad a couple weeks back but was denied by a late Carlos Tevez attack. It's not a team designed to bunker, and its attractive passing style can be a nice contrast to City's far more direct leanings. Cup glory is going to be someone's come Saturday evening hours, but the winner's celebrations may be tempered by consolation. This is not the competition either club is primarily targeted at claim.
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