Alejandro Garnacho put United ahead in the 30th minute and Kobbie Mainoo doubled their lead nine minutes later after a well-worked team move, with Jeremy Doku pulling one back later on.
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Erik ten Hag made a convincing case to be spared the sack as Manchester United upset Manchester City to take the FA Cup with a shock 2-1 victory in Saturday’s final.
Ten Hag was reportedly set to be dismissed regardless of the result at Wembley after a troubled campaign that even the United manager described as “terrible” this week.
But United’s hierarchy might be having second thoughts after Ten Hag’s tactical masterclass ruined City’s history bid.
City were hot favourites to win a second successive Premier League and FA Cup double.
Yet Ten Hag found a way to neutralise Pep Guardiola’s side as first half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo put United on course to win the FA Cup for the first time in eight years.
Jeremy Doku squeezed an 87th minute strike past Andre Onana’s weak attempted save but it was too late to rescue City.
Having ended a turbulent season on a high note, if Ten Hag’s two-year reign does end, his exit would provoke memories of fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford departure.
Van Gaal was fired just two days after United’s FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace in 2016.
Ten Hag will hope a more apt comparison is Alex Ferguson’s 1990 FA Cup final win against Palace, which kick-started his remarkable run after calls for his sacking earlier that season.
Player ratings
Man City: Ortega (5), Walker (6), Stones (6), Ake (5), Gvardiol (5), Rodri (6), Kovacic (5), De Bruyne (5), B Silva (6), Foden (6), Haaland (6).
Subs used: Doku (7), Akanji (6), Alvarez (6).
Man Utd: Onana (7), Wan-Bissaka (8), Varane (9), Martinez (8), Dalot (8), Mainoo (9), Amrabat (8), McTominay (8), Fernandes (8), Garnacho (8), Rashford (8).
Subs used: Hojlund (6), Evans (6), Lindelof (n/a), Mount (n/a).
Player of the match: Kobbie Mainoo.
Ferguson was in attendance as a match labelled Ten Hag’s funeral turned into a triumph for the much-maligned Dutchman.
United shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, who has control of football operations at Old Trafford, was also watching from the stands alongside co-owners Joel and Avie Glazer.
Linked with Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Gareth Southgate, among others, there is still plenty for Ratcliffe to ponder after United finished eighth in the Premier League this season — their lowest final position since 1990 — and crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage.
Ten Hag believes a lengthy injury list was the root of the problems and can point to the two trophies he has won in three cup final appearances with United as proof of what he can do when his team are at full strength.
Ten Hag ended United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last year and has now avenged their 2-1 loss to City in the FA Cup final 12 months ago despite finishing 31 points behind the champions this term.
Team news
Man City made three changes from the team that beat West Ham last weekend to win the Premier League. Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Jeremy Doku dropped to the bench, with John Stones, Nathan Ake and Mateo Kovacic into the XI.
Marcus Rashford returned to the Manchester United starting line-up for the first time since the semi-final win over Coventry a month ago. There was also a first start for Raphael Varane since the 4-3 loss to Chelsea on April 4. He partnered Lisandro Martinez in central defence, with Harry Maguire absent due to injury. Casemiro dropped out of the squad, a late withdrawal due to injury, with Amad Diallo dropping to the bench. Mason Mount was also among the substitutes.
– Stay of execution –
United will also qualify for the Europa League, avoiding a first season without European action since 2014-15.
They benefitted from an unusually tepid City performance as their double bid fell flat in their first domestic defeat since losing at Aston Villa in the league 171 days ago.
Last weekend, City became the first team to win the Premier League in four consecutive seasons.
But Guardiola’s men looked hungover after the celebrations that followed their sixth title in seven years.
City were furious when their strong penalty appeal was rejected inside the first minute after Lisandro Martinez’s shove sent Erling Haaland sprawling.
Content to sit deep with all 11 men behind the ball, United stifled City impressively and gleefully accepted their gift-wrapped opener in the 30th minute.
Diogo Dalot’s punt forward should have been dealt with by Josko Gvardiol, but the left-back hesitated as he looked for an offside flag.
Gvardiol headed the ball over City keeper Stefan Ortega, who had rashly rushed off his line, leaving Garnacho with the simple task of tapping into the empty net as Ten Hag clenched his fist in celebration.
Garnacho, 19, was the first teenager to score in the FA Cup final since Cristiano Ronaldo for United against Millwall 20 years ago.
Just nine minutes later, the 19-year-old Mainoo punished more sloppy City defending.
Garnacho advanced unchecked down the right wing and found Fernandes, whose superb first-time pass reached the unmarked Mainoo for a clinical close-range finish.
City pushed harder after the interval but although Doku’s shot slipped through Onana’s grasp to set up a tense finale, it wasn’t enough to deny United.
As the final seconds ticked away, Ten Hag stood in the sunshine nervously waiting to celebrate a dramatic win that could earn an unexpected stay of execution or serve as his final fling.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID:
Guardiola's praise for Ten Hag
"They have to take a decision [on Teg Hag's future].
"I don’t know, but he is lovely person, an extraordinary manager, winning the FA Cup was important for them like it was for us last season.
"We talked, we hug each other, now we are sad, but we celebrate tomorrow what an incredible achievement we have done and we will come back. In football and life, you win and lose… in second half, we didn’t give up and kept going."
Pep: My game plan didn't work
After losing the FA Cup final to fierce rivals Manchester United, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola took responsibility for the result, blaming his tactics for their defeat.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola took the blame for Saturday's FA Cup final defeat to Man Utd.
"First of all congratulations to Man Utd," he told his post-match press conference. "My game plan wasn't good. The second half was much better. We were more intense.
"The players know the reason why. Tactically it wasn't good. You plan for a game and different positions, but it didn't work. As always against United, we had control but, [not] like we did in the second-half, we couldn't create.
"We are disappointed today. It's normal when a team loses the final, but this season has been extraordinary.
"We have challenged for all the trophies in a good way. We now need to rest and come back."
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag:
"All compliments to the team. We played very good to our identity. Very strong. You have seen how we can play when we have the players on board. Some were not even match fit but the performance was very good.
"I tell you [media] this all year - when the players are fit we can play good football. A very good performance against the best team in the world.
"With a local rivalry it's there and it's much more important when you play a team from your own city. But for us it wasn't about this, it was to prove a point after so many setbacks. The team showed so much resilience and I'm proud of them."
On if criticism of his team has been unfair: "I think so. The team. Me as well. It was not right.
"But we didn't have the players. We have seen the same things, not always good football - definitely not - but we had to make compromises all the time and then you can't play the football you want to play.
"I had maybe three or four times in two years we had the full squad available. Even today we were missing massive players like Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Casemiro."
What's next?
The 2023/24 season has reached its conclusion but planning has already started for the new campaign.
Several Premier League sides have confirmed pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2024/25 term, which kicks off on the weekend of August 17/18, while others have given fresh kits an early airing.
Stand by for another busy summer in the transfer window - clubs can do business from June 14 until August 30 and the Atsi Sports Transfer Centre will keep you posted with all the latest news and rumours.
Euro 2024 is just weeks away, too. Keep track of England's Euro fixtures, check out the full tournament schedule in Germany and join us on Atsi sports.
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