FA Cup final: What will decide Chelsea v Man Utd? Ruud Gullit & Phil Neville analysis

Watch the FA Cup final live on BBC One and the BBC Sport website, with coverage starting at 16:10 BST on Saturday and kick-off at 17:30.

Two teams, one last shot at glory.

Chelsea and Manchester United meet on Saturday in the 137th FA Cup final, with both looking for silverware at the end of a season of mixed success.

But who will get their hands on the famous old trophy and why?

Ex-Chelsea player-manager Ruud Gullit and former United defender Phil Neville will join Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer for BBC Sport’s live coverage from Wembley.

Here, Gullit and Neville discuss why Chelsea will make life difficult for United, why Jose Mourinho has the edge over Antonio Conte and which player might make the difference.

Chelsea’s best chance? Give United the initiative

Chelsea have lacked a presence up front all season but Gullit does not think that will be a problem on Saturday, as long as they keep things tight at the back.

“When Chelsea have been successful in the past few years, they have always had great strikers,” Gullit said. “At the moment they don’t have one.

“But the main thing for them is defending well because, if you leave the initiative with United, then we know they have problems.

“Look at the last few games that United have played, against teams who are fighting relegation, and they have struggled. They prefer it against teams who are open, and they don’t like it when you sit back and wait for your chance.

“If Chelsea wait, their chance will come, and I think that way of playing on the break suits the players that Conte has got anyway, especially up front with quick players like Eden Hazard and Willian.”

Midfield is the key area for United

United’s best performances in recent weeks have come in their wins against Manchester City and Tottenham – teams who attacked them – and Neville feels Gullit is right to advise Chelsea to be cautious.

“I think the way United have had success against the big teams this season is because the bigger teams have gone forward, committed men forward and left gaps,” he said.

“Paul Pogba has actually enjoyed playing in those matches more because he gets more opportunities to play, and more space.

“I think the midfield area is probably the key for them against Chelsea. For United to win the game, their three in midfield – Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera – are going to have to be on top of their game individually.

“Of course, Chelsea will be doing everything they can to stop that from happening, but I am confident United will come out on top.

“Chelsea’s performances recently have not been great and you cannot go into a cup final and just turn on your best form.

“They have got some great individuals but I see United as a happier unit at this moment in time, and they have also played outstandingly well against all the big Premier League teams this season – they have beaten the rest of the top six at least once.

“When you are going into a big game like this one, that really helps you.”

United can alter approach to change the game

Neville feels Chelsea and United’s previous meetings this season will prove especially relevant, particularly the one at Old Trafford in February, when United came from a goal behind to win 2-1.

“United were very positive with their reaction in that game,” Neville recalled. “It was similar to when they recovered from a bad start to beat Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final.

“Both times, United started on the back foot and went behind in the first half and, both times, Mourinho worked out what was going wrong. That is a massive strength of his.

“United did not just come back to win, though, they came back to take complete control of both games in the second half.

“I thought the semi-final was probably Jose’s best moment of the season in the way he won United that game with his tactics, because he was absolutely fantastic.

“I know you can say that Pogba and Alexis Sanchez stepped up in that game, because they did, but Mourinho played a big part in it too.

“He dropped Herrera into the space that Dele Alli was occupying and I am sure he will have a similar plan to try to keep Chelsea’s Eden Hazard quiet too.”

But are Chelsea capable of different tactics?

The worry for Gullit is that Conte will not adapt his approach, even if things are not going well for the Blues.

Gullit points to Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester City in March as an example of when Conte would not – or could not – alter his tactics to try to find a way back into the match.

“That day was crucial for me,” Gullit said. “Conte did not change anything even when Chelsea were a goal down and being played off the park.

“That was a turning point, because I thought he would at least do something in order to try to change the game – but he paid too much respect to City.

“Mourinho would not let that happen without trying something different.

“Afterwards, he will not be bothered about playing well or how the final played out. He is not bothered about starting well, either, because he just wants to win – and the best time to take control of a game is towards the end.

“Again, I think a good example is the way they beat Spurs in the semi-final. Spurs dominated early on but, from the moment United went ahead, Tottenham knew they could not score – there was no way back.”

‘The last chance to save both clubs’ seasons?’

Conte won the Premier League in his first season at Stamford Bridge but speculation over his future at the club started before his side had even started their defence of their title.

The Blues finished fifth, without spending a single day at the top of the table, and will play in the Europa League next season.