But coach ten Hag fired?
Manchester United disenchants City for FA Cup triumph
25.05.2024, 17:59
Surprising victory over city rivals: Manchester United strikes twice in the first half of the FA Cup final, but Manchester City then makes everything really exciting. But the Red Devils don’t fall. Will the big triumph still mean the end of Erik ten Hag?
Manchester United has won the FA Cup for the 13th time, preventing local rivals Manchester City from achieving a historic double. The English record champions beat the defending champions 2-1 (2-0) in the final of the world’s oldest football competition and celebrated a conciliatory end to a disappointing season. Despite winning the title, team manager Erik ten Hag is apparently not looking forward to the next round.
“I don’t know,” he said after the cup win, according to the BBC, when asked about his future at Manchester United. “The only thing I do is prepare my team and develop them further.” When he came to Manchester United, he said it was chaotic. “Now we are better.” But they are not yet where they want to be. Ten Hag has been training the team since July 2022.
Alejandro Garnacho (30th) took advantage of a misunderstanding between City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and defender Josko Gvardiol in the repeat of last year’s final to take the lead. A little later, Kobbie Mainoo (39th) struck after a counterattack. ManUnited, which finished the season in a disappointing eighth place in the league, qualified for the Europa League next season thanks to winning the title. Manchester now only needs a triumph in the FA Cup to draw level with record winners Arsenal.
City record prevented
ManCity, who would have been the first English team to win the double twice in a row if they had won, missed several good opportunities to draw level in the second half. Erling Haaland (55th minute) hit the crossbar, world champion Julian Alvarez (64th minute) shot wide from close range. Jeremy Doku’s goal (87th minute) came too late.
ManUnited now has to work through this season. According to the media, it has already been decided that ten Hag will not be allowed to continue. One potential successor is Thomas Tuchel, who has left the German record champions Bayern Munich.