Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City win the FA Cup and enter the UEFA Europa League! The two youngsters set a record, and the kicking and defense are still world-class

Romy's Manchester United blog

2024-05-26 01:18Posted in Guangdong sports creators

At New Wembley, London, Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-1 to win this season's FA Cup and avenge last year's final defeat. This is the 13th time Manchester United have won the FA Cup, behind only Arsenal. The Red Devils also qualified for next season's UEFA Europa League after winning the title, with sixth Chelsea in the Premier League squeezed into the UEFA Europa League, while seventh-placed Newcastle United were disqualified.

In the pre-match dressing room warm-up, Casemiro retired injured and teenager Cambuvara replaced him in the squad. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane played in central defence, with Ten Hag deploying Amrabat in central midfield and continuing to combine with Kobe Maynor, Garnacho and Marcus Rashford on the wings, while Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay were pseudo-strikers.

Ten Hag's tactics were very simple and straightforward, which was to defend intensively and play counter-attacks. As we all know, since the era of Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United's defensive play has been a world-class level. Manchester United still retain the golden partners of Solskjaer's multiple defeats to Pep Guardiola - Fernando Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, and Scott McTominay and Garnacho were also City's nemesis.

Manchester City, meanwhile, were a bit underdog, with more than 70 per cent possession after the opening kick-off, but the Blues' attack was too sluggish, constantly pouring their feet on the perimeter, but rarely attacking United's heartland.

It's no secret that United fear nothing more than a straight onslaught, particularly breaking through Diogu Dalow down the left and then passing the ball into the gap between Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the centre-back. However, Gvardiol had no attacking chances against Aaron Wan-Bissaka and B was not the breakaway winger that Darlow feared, leaving United's defence impregnable.

One statistic shows that the two teams did not create any corners in the first half, and United were understandably in a defensive position, while Manchester City did not win a corner, which is a full reflection of their attacking problems. In a slow pass, the blue moon slowly sank.

Gvardiol was unproductive in City's attack, but he ended up playing a key role in United's attack. In a counter-attack from the Red Devils, he had already carried Garnacho away and had a choice of various ways to clear the ball, but instead he opted to head the ball towards his own goal, and substitute goalkeeper Ortega made a mistake with him and did not touch the ball. The ball fell to Garnacho, who slotted it into the empty net to give United a 1-0 lead.

Manchester United played well, while Manchester City underestimated the opponent and even provided an assist. After breaking the deadlock, Ten Hag's counter-attacking tactics were more suitable, while Guardiola did not change decisively, still maintaining an open possession but no attacking threat.

Garnacho counter-attacked again when a cross from the right set up Marcus Rashford to send the ball into the back of the net, but he was offside and the goal was disallowed.

United still extended their advantage after less than 10 minutes of lead, Marcus Rashford moved widely, Garnacho crossed from the right, Fernandes Fernandes struck the left side of the space in the first place, Meno arrived in time to push home the far corner, and the Red Devils played a slick counter-attack to end the first half with a 2-0 lead.

Pep Guardiola made changes to City's line-up after the break, with Doku and Akanji coming on and it was not hard to imagine that United were under more pressure as the opposition attacked from the flanks easier. Thankfully, City didn't play that way in the first half, and United, who were two goals ahead, had built up momentum and determination.

City created more chances in the second half, but the crossbar denied Haaland's only chance of the game as he fired a powerful left-footed shot from the right that Onana was out of choice but the ball bounced off the woodwork. Onana then made a series of great saves to defuse Kyle Walker's two world-wave long-range shots.

City also failed to capitalise on their chances as Alvarez fired wide and United held on to a two-goal lead until the final 10 minutes.

For some United players, it will be their farewell game, such as Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and even Amrabat, who was one of the best performers of the game, and perhaps United will change their minds and consider buying him out for 20 million euros.

The belief of the United players was unwavering, and even when Doku fired a low shot into the near corner late in regulation time to make it 2-1, United risked being forced into extra-time, but this time the team did not collapse. "Glory to Manchester United!" At the end of seven minutes of stoppage time, Wembley rang out with the singing of the Red Devils fans. Throughout the game, Manchester United played better and more fighting than Manchester City, and in the end they deserved to win the title.

Captain Fernandes lifted the FA Cup trophy high into the air, prompting enthusiastic cheers from Manchester United fans. Two 19-year-old Academy youngsters, Garnacho and Meno, set a new record for the tournament with goals on the scoresheet in the first half of the final. It is worth mentioning that the two have won the FA Youth Cup together with Manchester United's under-18 team and have now won the FA Cup, giving fans hope for the future at the end of a record-breaking bad season.

Ten Hag kissed and lifted the trophy as he greeted the United fans in celebration. He spent two seasons in charge and reached three Wembley cup finals, winning two trophies.

The 54-year-old Dutchman insisted after the game that, as he said, his squad would be fighting if the whole squad stayed fit.

However, Ten Hag also said in an interview with England legend Lineker that he did not know if this would be his last game.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the stands faces a dilemma, with his decision reportedly not being dictated by FA Cup triumph or not, with Ten Hag likely to step down after winning the FA Cup, like Louis van Gaal.

But in any case, this is at least a desirable ending. Whether next season's United boss is Ten Hag or someone else, they still need to make progress and the Reds can't just be strong on the counter-attack, they need to do it more in the season and be more dangerous in their own possession. If Ten Hag stays in office, he should also learn to talk less and win more, because professional football is always a winner.

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