If this is to be Erik ten Hag’s last act on the touchline as Manchester United manager, then at least it was his finest hour. It was a rare day in the sun for the Dutchman.
The United manager’s future is uncertain to say the least but he could bask in a victory over Manchester City that secured the club a 13th FA Cup and booked a place in next season’s Europa League too.
He may follow in the footsteps of compatriot Louis van Gaal who was sacked as United manager with cup in hand eight years ago, but he will have this day to remember his tenure by. Had he had his first-choice team available more often, then performances like this will have been more frequent, Ten Hag argues.
Overall it has been a season to forget for United — slumping to eighth in the league, returning their worst goal difference along with limping out of the Champions League in the group stage — but it finished on a high on merit.
Everything came together as they defeated Pep Guardiola’s team and denied them successive league and cup triumphs. His game-plan to cram midfield and push City out wide worked. The onus was placed on Alejandro Garnacho being the outlet, and it worked.
The Argentinian scored United’s first when he did not give up on one ball forward and a mix-up between Josko Gvardiol and Stefan Ortega presented him with the tap-in. Kobbie Mainoo put United two goals ahead with a calm finish. The two teenagers came of age on the biggest stage.
And it was quite apt because it has been the club’s youngsters who have always provided hope of a brighter future this term. Bruno Fernandes also demonstrated his worth with a captain’s performance.
For City this was an off-day when they could have achieved an historic double Double. They never got going when faced with United’s compact shape and although Erling Haaland struck the crossbar and Phil Foden mis-kicked a good chance, substitute Jeremy Doku’s goal proved no more than a consolation.
This was the first time Guardiola had lost a domestic final in England and the rare occasion when his team failed to show up for the big occasion. They have already made history by claiming a record fourth consecutive Premier League title but it will rankle that they could not clinch this one.
Story of the game
Like the double-deckers around these parts, an all-Manchester FA Cup final had been a long time coming until last season’s showpiece, but the second in as many years also brought about the first final re-run since 1885 when Blackburn Rovers and Queen’s Park met in two successive finals.
The contrast between blue and red was vivid, as was the differing campaigns that the two teams brought with them into this contest. City appeared all-conquering having clinched the Premier League last Sunday, whereas United were scratching around for something positive to take from this season of struggle.
Ten Hag’s future was the talk of Wembley Way with reports suggesting this would be his last game of a two-year tenure, whereas the club insisted a review will come at the end of the campaign. The favourites were clear but United had a point to prove.
Guardiola had a full squad to choose from and United’s injury concerns had also lessened. The sight of a conventional centre-back partnership with Lisandro Martinez lining up alongside Raphael Varane, playing his final game for the club, made for positive viewing for supporters accustomed to makeshift backlines of late.
But it was Ten Hag’s set-up further up-field that dictated proceedings and kept space at a premium for the likes of Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.
Sofyan Amrabat and Mainoo were the two deeper midfielders while Scott McTominay and Fernandes played a little further ahead. There was no out-and-out striker until Rasmus Hojlund came on with 15 minutes remaining.
Marcus Rashford, fresh from missing out on England’s preliminary squad for Euro 2024, and Garnacho tucked in from the wings and forced City to redraw their passing triangles. United’s game-plan was allowed to move into its next phase in the 30th minute when City erred and Garnacho pounced.
Amrabat collected a wayward pass in midfield and Diogo Dalot played a cross-field ball from left back towards the the right wing where the Argentinian attacker gave chase.
Gvardiol was alongside Garnacho but miscommunication between the City defender and Ortega, who erratically rushed off his line, caused chaos. Gvardiol headed the ball over his goalkeeper and Garnacho was happy to apply the finish into an empty net.
City’s high defensive line was almost exploited again when Garnacho squared for Rashford but the offside flag went up. Nevertheless, City’s back-line was not impregnable.
It got better for Ten Hag’s team, and worse for City, six minutes before half time when another diagonal ball over the top sent United through again. Rashford picked out Garnacho and his pass to Fernandes on the edge of the penalty area was flicked onto Mainoo.
The United midfielder showed great composure to wrong foot Ortega before guiding a shot around the City ‘keeper and into the far corner. The red half of Wembley had rarely seen such an accomplished showing from their team this season. Sir Jim Ratcliffe applauded from the royal box.
These were heavy blows to Guardiola and his players but they did respond after the break. Doku, sent on at half time, was their best player in the second half. Foden mis-kicked one of the Belgian’s pull-backs while another drive ended with Haaland thumping an effort against the woodwork.
Andre Onana saved superbly from a Kyle Walker drive and substitute Julian Alvarez side-footed wide after being played in by Foden. With these missed chances came the sense that this was not City’s day.
Yet, the lively Doku cut onto his right foot in the 87th minute and fired a low shot that Onana let slip through his grasp at the near post and into his net. United have thrown countless leads away this season but they hung onto this one to give Ten Hag the result of his tenure, so far.
