What an end. What a climax to the season as Man Utd and Erik ten Hag did the seemingly impossible and triumphed over neighbours and heavy favourites (not to mention the current FA Cup holders, historic 4-peat PL winners and apparent greatest team in Premier League history) Man City to win the oldest cup competition in football: the FA Cup.
With all the odds stacked against them, United put in their best performance of the season in a game that displayed true unity throughout the squad, staff and fans. It was beautiful to see.
I must admit, I have become quite negative towards my team over the past decade because of how poor we’ve become. This has caused me to be negative perhaps a little too often towards them as I too, predicted a City win.
In saying that, on matchday morning, I had a change of heart, a surge of positivity. I decided to believe in my team for once and have confidence that they could do it.
On the official Man Utd app, in the prediction game, I did predict a 2–1 United win.
So even a negative shit like myself had some positivity for once.
And that’s the thing about this team and especially manager. They make us believe and believe like we haven’t had for a long time.
Erik ten Hag did go with a more defensive approach (which wasn’t a surprise) but the surprise did come at how well it was executed.
To sort of shutout the best team at breaking down stubborn defences, it easy no easy feat. With a more compact midfield, it meant that City couldn’t play through United and had to move out wide a lot which is where MUFC fancied their chances of winning the ball back.
City looked very frustrated for most of the match and particularly in the first half as they created nothing of note. Guardiola’s team’s main weakness is in exploiting their high line which is something that ten Hag knew and is an aspect of football that United do very well.
A long ball to Alejandro Garnacho caused a bit of confusion between goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and defender Josko Gvardiol which saw the Croatian head the ball to where he thought his ‘keeper would be. To all of our surprise, the shot-stopper was on the edge of the box with the header going over him and becoming the best of assists for Garnacho who had a tap in.
1–0 United in the most unexpected of ways although the lead was deserved.
The second goal was a thing of beauty when looking at the build up play from United.
ten Hag’s team wins the ball back from a City attack and moved the ball quickly and smoothly to exploit the space left by the Cityzens while going forward.
It began with a brilliant cross-field ball by Marcus Rashford from left to right to Garnacho who was in space. He played a simple pass into Bruno Fernandes at the edge of the box before he fooled everyone (including the cameraman) as the captain played a sublime no look assist to Kobbie Mainoo who was free at the back post for a simple finish.
What a goal by United to go 2–0 up.
The second half was City going for it — as everyone expected — where they created some good chances one of which was Erling Haaland hitting the bar, the one time that he reminded us he was actually playing. They eventually got their goal through Jeremy Doku but it proved to be too late for City and Pep.
1–2 is how it ended and United get their 13th FA Cup, one behind Arsenal who have the most.
An incredible feeling to win the FA Cup against the odds and as I said at the start ‘What an end’ as this feels like the end of many things.
The end of a truly terrible season, the end of certain players’ time at Old Trafford, and perhaps the end of Erik ten Hag.
Ratings:
Onana — 10
AWB — 10
Varane — 10
Martinez — 10
Dalot — 10
Amrabat — 10
Mainoo — 11
Garnacho — 11
Bruno — 12 MOTM
Rashford — 10
McTominay — 10
Evans — 10
Hojlund — 10
Lindelof — 10
Mount — 10
Erik ten Hag — 100 (yes, you read that correctly)
Final Thoughts
This does feel bitter sweet though.
There was a lot of talk before the final that regardless of what happens, INEOS will sack the manager.
I believe that this will still happen and that this review of the season (which I thought was already being done by Sir Dave Brailsford once INEOS did takeover) is just to delay the inevitable. They’re just waiting for things to die down a little and let all the excitement disappear.
Admittedly though, that excitement has already gone knowing that they will get rid of him. That waiting is just killing us all. At least just be done with it.
This is why it’s bitter sweet.
We won the FA Cup and it feels like we lost. How?
It also felt like the start of something when looking at certain players who returned from injury and displayed what a good team we can be and with the scorers being Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, it indicated what our club is all about: the youth.
The man who’s truly promoted that youth and developed them is Erik ten Hag.
How could they get rid of him after all he’s been through? Did they not see how everyone celebrated as a unit? The togetherness in the squad?
I have believed ever since INEOS came in, they’ve wanted their own man and want to remove Erik ten Hag despite most of the fanbase wanting him to stay.
This would not be a good start by the new co-owners.
But at least the Dutchman would go out on a high. That is a positive.
Background image: Creator: BEN STANSALL | Credit: AFP via Getty Images Copyright: AFP or licensors via Man Utd News