RONALD Koeman will be hoping that arch-nemesis and Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will do him a massive European favour today in the FA Cup final.

The duo have a frosty relationship after a falling-out in their native Holland, but, if van Gaal's side win the FA Cup against Crystal Palace, they will send Saints flying into the group stages of the Europa League.

That will hand Saints a significant boost ahead of their second successive European campaign and might well help thaw the Dutch pair's feud slightly.

Koeman's side are in the Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League, but might face going through a gruelling early-season qualifying process to reach the group stages, if Palace win the FA Cup.

And while Koeman is rarely on van Gaal's side these days, the St Mary's manager will hope that his old friend will grant Saints passage to the groups by lifting the cup.

The Red Devils boss is certainly in a fighting spirit as United go in search of their first FA Cup win in 12 years.

"A club like Manchester United needs silverware. We need it, the players need it," van Gaal has stated.

"Qualification (for the Champions League) is not a title...a title is the FA Cup, the championship.

"It is important for the players. They can look at and hold the cup, that's an exciting moment and especially here in England because the FA Cup is a big title.

"Also for Manchester United it is a big title. I have read that the club's last FA Cup was 2004 so that's a long time ago.

"The fans are more concerned about the title than I because the title for the fans is fantastic. We want to give it (to them)."

Koeman and van Gaal's relationship first strained when they were both at Ajax in 2004 and it has rumbled on in one way or another ever since.

The problems between the two haven't eased since they came to the Premier League, but van Gaal could do his compatriot a favour today.

Palace, managed by ex-Saints boss Alan Pardew, may be a difficult prospect for United, though.

The large pitch at Wembley is expected to suit the South Londoners' array of wide players, including another former St Mary's man Jason Punchehon, which could make it a long afternoon for the Old Trafford outfit.

If Palace are victorious in their first FA Cup final in 26 year, then Saints will enter the third qualifying round of the Europa League as a result, which is the same stage they entered last season.

That two-legged tie is then followed by a play-off double header to reach the group stages.

In turn that will add four massive games to their schedule at the end of July and into the beginning of the Premier League season in August, which can be considered far from ideal.