LONDON, May 16-- This weekend's FA Cup final between Manchester City and Watford could see City claim a historic Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup treble, and cement Pep Guardiola's reputation as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. However, viewers on the other side of Manchester will also be keeping a close eye on a game which could have an important effect on Manchester United's 2019/20 season. United finished a disappointing season sixth in the 2018/19 Premier League, and as things currently stand they will qualify directly for the group stage of the Europa League, which kicks off on September 19th. However, if Watford pull off a surprise and defeat City at Wembley, that would change everything, with Watford qualifying directly for the group stage of the Europa League and condemning Manchester United to play three qualifying rounds. The first of those rounds kicks off on July 25, over a fortnight before the 2019/20 Premier League season is due to start, and would mean Manchester United's players having shorter summer holidays and the club needing to reorganize their summer schedule. United currently have five scheduled pre-season friendly games, the first of which is against Australian side Perth Glory in Perth on July 13, four days before they face Leeds United in the same city on July 17. The Red Devils then take their summer tour to Singapore to face Inter Milan on July 20, before heading to Shanghai to play Tottenham Hotspur at the Hongkou Stadium on July 25, followed by a final friendly game against AC Milan in Cardiff on August 3. |