Manchester United

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho speaks to Sky Sports about his team selection: "We don't have Henrikh Mkhitaryan"We think we need someone with his characteristics - one on one, drive with the ball.

"It is amazing Southampton haven't conceded in this competition - it shows their mentality and organisation. We know they are a very good team. We want to win the cup and to win the cup we have to score goals.

"For the club it is important. For me not so much. I am thinking about the club, fans and players.

"It would be great for everyone. For me a victory is always better than a defeat - one more trophy is always better. But I am focused on the club and evolution and no better way to evolve than with a trophy."

Image source, Reuters

The Swede scored four goals in the four domestic cup finals he played for Paris St-Germain (excluding Super Cups), netting a brace in the 2015 Coupe de la Ligue final against Bastia, and another brace in the 2016 Coupe de France final against Marseille.  

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Rex Features

"It would be immense if Southampton could win. I would love it to happen and it would be brilliant to have another Cup winning captain to speak to."

Southampton's 1976 FA Cup winning team skipper Peter Rodrigues.

That's him on the right with the incredible tash.

Southampton

Southampton manager Claude Puel tells Sky Sports: "I am confident with my players and we had good preparation in Spain with our training camp. Now it is important to put it on the pitch. 

"We know we are the underdogs but in football all is possible. We saw this against Arsenal and Liverpool, it has been a good journey and we need to complete the work.

"We need to find good stability and a good opportunity to win something and qualify for the Europa League. We can learn in this competition and will be interesting for my squad to play again every three days next season."

Image source, BBC Radio Solent

Even Southampton's post boxes have been painted in the club's colours to celebrate the occasion.

Their last appearance in a major final came in 2003 when they lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Arsenal. Robert Pires grabbing the winner for the Gunners.

The Saints did reach Wembley in 2010, then as a League One side, when they beat Carlisle United 4-1 to claim the Football League Trophy.

Alan Shearer
Ex-Southampton striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Claude Puel has taken this competition seriously and Southampton are yet to concede a goal. They have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal on the way.

He will try to play it down, that is what he will be telling his players but this United team do concede chances. The Saints forward players will cause them some problems.

There will be 80-90,000 people at Wembley so can the players handle the atmosphere?

'The Fig'‏: I actually think we can beat United today, we will be fearless. Gabbiadini has made a difference already COMON YOU SAINTS.

Aiden Gardner: Honestly this should be a Man Utd win today we need it so I'm saying Lingard to score with his Wembley heroics and Zlatan 2-0.

If today's final at Wembley matches anything like some of the action going on in the other cup taking place - the FA People's Cup - we're in for a cracker!

The Under-14 Girls final in Stoke between  She Kicks It  and  Staffordshire Schools County finished 5-5 before going to penalties. 

Staffordshire held their nerve to win 3-2 and here's the winning moment...

You can find out how the Adult Male teams are getting on this afternoon here.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Wembley

Southampton's fans have been in party mood around Wembley refreshing memories of their 1976 FA Cup Final win against Manchester United.

Can history repeat itself? Not if United manager Jose Mourinho has got anything to do with it. He made it his business to make this his first trophy in his first spell in 2005 - repeating the trick for the first trophy of his second spell in 2015.

Saints have not conceded a goal in this competition so the optimism of their fans is well-founded.

Tottenham Hotspur managed to do the same in 1981-82, but lost the final 3-1 to Liverpool.

But how will they cope without long-term absentee Virgil van Dijk at the back? 

Alan Shearer
Ex-Southampton striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Southampton are a brilliant football club, I owe them a hell of a lot and started my career there. They are still doing now what they were doing when I was there with is that they keep turning out the players. The money they have made from selling players is staggering. 

They care for you and give you a chance, that is the difference between them and other clubs. If you are good enough you will find yourself on the pitch in the starting 11.

What is always mentioned at the club is the 1976 FA Cup final win, these players now have a chance to put themselves in Southampton history.

Southampton

Third round: Crystal Palace (2-0)

Fourth round: Sunderland (1-0)

Quarter-finals: Arsenal (2-0)

Semi-finals: Liverpool (2-0 on aggregate)

Manchester United

Third round: Northampton (3-1)

Fourth round: Manchester City (1-0)

Quarter-finals: West Ham (4-1)

Semi-finals: Hull (3-2 on aggregate)

Manchester United make six changes from the side who beat Saint-Etienne in France on Wednesday. 

David de Gea, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial all come in.

Wayne Rooney is on the bench.

Man Utd XI:  De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Ibrahimovic.  

Southampton have had two weeks to rest for this game and name the same team that beat Sunderland 4-0 a fortnight ago.

Potential debutant Martin Caceres is on the bench.

Southampton XI: Forster, Soares, Yoshida, Stephens, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond, Gabbiadini.  

Tony Husband
BBC South Today sports editor

Image source, Tony Husband

Batman and Spiderman are both backing Southampton at Wembley today. BBC Radio Solent  is live at the EFL Cup final.

Saints will have to play like superheroes on the pitch if they are to win today.

Southampton

January signing Manolo Gabbiadini leads the line for Southampton so semi-final second-leg hero Shane Long is on the bench, alongside defender Martin Caceres.

Manchester United

Juan Mata does start for Manchester United, as does Jesse Lingard. Skipper Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford are on the bench.

Full team news to follow.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata did not travel to London with his team-mates ahead of their EFL Cup final against Southampton.

The Spaniard had returned to Spain to attend his grandfather's funeral.

Mata flew back to England on Saturday evening and joined the players at United's team hotel in London.

Full team news to come.

Image source, Getty Images

This very competition set Jose Mourinho on his way to the seven trophies the Portuguese picked up in his two spells at Chelsea.

The Blues beat Liverpool 3-2 in a thriller in 2005, with Mourinho sent off for taunting the Reds supporters.

In fact, of the four English domestic final he has reached (three League Cups, one FA Cup), he has not lost any.

Claude Puel will need to re-write the record books today.