FA Cup final LIVE: Reaction as Man Utd upset Man City to claim the trophy at Wembley – The Mirror
Manchester United have sprung a surprise to beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley to claim the trophy for Erik ten Hag, who is set to be relieved of his duties
Manchester United have beaten Manchester City 2-1 to win the FA Cup at Wembley.
First-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo put United into a shock 2-0 lead and Erik ten Hag's side defended manfully to hold onto their lead until late on. Jeremy Doku snuck a goal in at the near post past Andre Onana, but the tense finish never really materialised.
City were looking to complete a double after securing a fourth straight Premier League title, but they came up short at Wembley as they failed to repeat their 2-1 win over United in the same fixture last year.
It is a brilliant win for Ten Hag, who has been under massive pressure since finishing eighth in the league. Nevertheless, the Dutchman is expected to be replaced as manager in the coming days.
Follow along to see all the reaction…
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Thanks for following along. What a win for Manchester United, which has been overshadowed a little by the uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag.
Stay tuned to Mirror Football for all the latest on the United boss, but that's your lot for now!
It will be no consolation for Pep Guardiola but he obviously had a feeling it could happen.
When looking ahead to this game, the Manchester City manager outlined his main worry – that a sense of complacency might undermine their quest for yet another trophy. Turns out Pep was right to be worried.
City were not just beaten by a very well-organised, incredibly hard-working, counter-attacking United, they were beaten by their own complacency, their own over-confidence. This was as sloppy a performance as a Guardiola side has produced for a long, long time.
The only thing really snappy about this City display was the manager’s suit and tie. The law of averages suggested they were due a substandard outing. The law of averages suggested Rodri had to be reminded what it is like to lose a football match. But few could have seen this coming, few could have seen the incompetence at times.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe may not have answered a question about Erik ten Hag's future, but he has issued a statement on the victory.
He said: “It is a glorious feeling to win the FA Cup. Manchester United clearly were not the favourites to win today but they played with total commitment and skill and overcame one of the great teams in football. We are all very proud of the players and the staff who work tirelessly to support them."
Ratcliffe completed his takeover in February and already has his first piece of silverware, despite a poor season altogether.
Erik ten Hag has come out swinging in his post-match press conference.
He came into the FA Cup final surrounded by speculation about his future, with reports stating he would be sacked no matter the result.
His message? "If they don't want me any more, I go somewhere else and win trophies, that's what I've done my whole career."
Erik ten Hag is facing uncertainty, but he has rightly enjoyed his day at Wembley.
After lifting the trophy, the Dutchman spent some time chatting and celebrating with his coaching staff on the Wembley pitch.
Thomas Tuchel believes he will be the next manager of Manchester United – despite the Reds’ sensational FA Cup triumph.
Reports in Germany claim that the former Chelsea boss turned down the chance to remain in charge of Bayern Munich because he wants another crack at the Premier League by succeeding Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. Ten Hag will officially learn his fate next week – but it appears that the Dutchman is doomed despite masterminding a dramatic 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City at Wembley.
Tuchel is believed to be one of a number of names on the wish-list of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group should the decision be announced to end Ten Hag’s two-year reign. But according to sources in Munich, the 50-year-old reckons he is already nailed on for the job.
Bruno Fernandes did not throw his support behind Erik ten Hag when speaking after Manchester United's win.
Asked if he felt Ten Hag deserves to stay, United captain Fernandes told ITV: "That is not for me to decide. I am just a football player. We just want to celebrate. We just want to enjoy this moment together with all of the fans, the staff and the manager. We all deserve this."
Manchester City will be handed some sort of hand to get revenge in August when they play Manchester United in the Community Shield, which will kick off the 2024/25 season.
That match sees the winner of the Premier League playing the winner of the FA Cup.
Unfortunately there were some unsavory scenes before kick-off at Wembley, with rivals fans fighting.
The chaos brought traffic to a standstill as around a dozen fans from both sides engaged in a heated fight before what was the second consecutive Manchester derby final. The altercation escalated quickly near a bus stop where two men initially started arguing, leading to more joining the fray.
During the melee, a shirtless man was knocked to the ground, appearing unconscious, as another bystander rushed to support his head. Despite the serious situation, the brawl raged on around them, causing two buses to come to a complete stop.
Erik ten Hag has secured the FA Cup trophy for Manchester United, but he still doesn't know if he will still be manager at the start of next season.
United have fallen well short of expectations this season, being knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage and finishing eighth in the Premier League. But today's win does throw a spanner into the works – could Ten Hag follow Louis van Gaal in being sacked by United after winning a trophy?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe shook hands with his manager at the presentation, but refused to answer when asked by reporters in the mixed zone if Ten Hag would remain in charge. This uncertainty can't last much longer.
Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana are both Erik ten Hag signings at Manchester United.
They cost a lot of money and have experienced some significant struggles since arriving, but they both contributed to their FA Cup win today.
Whether Ten Hag will still be their manager next season remains a big question mark at the moment…
Sir Alex Ferguson was sat in the posh seats at Wembley and was seen talking passionately with Sir Dave Brailsford.
He's made his way past the media – and unsurprisingly he's a happy man tonight.
Sir Alex Ferguson stopped in the mixed zone to give his reaction to Man Utd’s FA Cup win: “Fantastic!” #MUFC @MirrorFootball
Pep Guardiola has been self-critical in his post-match media duties.
Guardiola: "I think my game plan was not good." #MCFC
Jamie Carragher has tweeted his thoughts, bringing Liverpool into the conversation for some reason…
Manchester United & Liverpool are the two most successful clubs in England. They are not always the best BUT……they both have an ability to continually win trophies when the odds are stacked against them. #findawaytowin
Erik ten Hag has been asked about his future as Manchester United manager.
He's got another year on his contract, but rumours have been swirling that he will be replaced this summer, regardless of today's result.
"I don’t know," he said on BBC One. "The only thing I’m doing is preparing my team, developing my team. This is a project for me. When I came in I can say it was a mess. Now we are better. We are not where we want to be.
"Football is about winning trophies. I want to play the best football, dynamic, attacking football but in the end you have to win games and trophies. That’s the menaltaty we brought in. This was our one opportunity and we did it. I‘m very proud of the players and staff."
Pep Guardiola was an animated and frustrated figure on the touchline at Wembley, but he couldn't change things.
The introduction of Jeremy Doku at half-time made a difference, but it wasn't enough, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka generally coping well and Sofyan Amrabat helping to snuff out any chances through the middle.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been speaking on BBC One.
"It was the last chance to get something positive from the season. We were here last season and we weren't good enough and we had to see them go up and get the trophy," he said.
"They have great quality, great players, a great manager. We had to sacrifice and suffer but we did great things. I try my best to help the team.
"Kobbie Mainoo is really good, such a quality player and you can see the composure he had with the finish. He came through the Academy and once more on the biggest stage in the world he showed it again. Congratulations to everyone, the staff, the players and all the fans, they have given us a big push – finally we have something to celebrate.
"It is crucial for everyone. We know the manager is under so much scrutiny, he deserves this, also everyone in the backroom staff and the players, we all deserve this."
Wayne Rooney has hailed Manchester United for their game plan.
"Absolutely delighted," Rooney said on BBC One. "It was such a huge task for Manchester United today to come here and beat the champions and I thought they were absolutely fantastic.
The resilience they've shown, the work rate, the effort, the desire to score goals. They deserved the victory."
It was a huge day for Erik ten Hag, who had to prepare for the match with reports swirling about his future.
Ten Hag likely knows that his position as manager won't be changed by the result of this match, but if this is the end, it was some way to go out.
United's tactics worked perfectly, with the low block and pace on the counter-attack frustrating City. The fact the goals came from two young guns will have made things sweeter too.
David de Gea may have left Manchester United last summer, but he's still a fan of the club.
Manchester is and always will be RED!
Manchester United youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have made history by becoming the first two teenagers to score in the same FA Cup final.
The Red Devils headed into Saturday afternoon's season finale at Wembley as major underdogs against Manchester City but stunned their rivals by scoring twice in the first half through Garnacho and Mainoo, both 19.
Jeremy Doku scored late on but United saw the game out to win 2-1 and finish their season with a flourish. The result means Erik ten Hag, who is understood to be at risk of losing his job imminently, has now won silverware in both of his two years at the helm.
It emerged during the half-time interval that history had already been made at Wembley courtesy of Manchester United's goalscorers. While teenagers have scored in the FA Cup final before, never had two scored in the same match prior to Saturday.
Read the full story here.
Erik ten Hag got his teenage kicks as two of Manchester United's brightest young talents inspired their side to a surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
With pre-match reports indicating that Ten Hag, who could only guide his side to an eighth placed finish in the Premier League this season, will be sacked this summer regardless of the result at Wembley, United were an impressively organised outfit in the opening exchanges, and they took the lead after half an hour following a mix up between Stefan Ortega and Josko Gvardiol which allowed Alejandro Garnacho to score.
A superb team move led to Kobbie Mainoo slotting home a brilliant second before the break, with a sluggish City left punch-drunk. Erling Haaland bit the bar for Pep Guardiola's side early in the second half, but United held firm until Jeremy Doku's effort squirmed past Andre Onana in the 87th minute.
United survived the remainder of normal time and seven minutes of stoppage time to secure an unlikely success and deny City the league and cup double.
Read the full story here.
THAT IS IT! United are 2023/24 FA Cup winners!
Ten Hag's side have done it with first-half goals from Garnacho and Mainoo the difference. United will now play in the Europa League next season.
Fernandes tries to have a go from the halfway line but his effort does not trouble Ortega.
It does waste a couple of valuable seconds, however…
Late double substitution for United.
Mount and Lindelof on for Garnacho and McTominay.
It's just a routine catch for Onana but it's such an important one.
Alvaraz whips in a corner and Onana comes and collects it over the head of his defenders.
The fourth official has added on SEVEN more minutes…
City continue to search for an equaliser here while United are fighting hard to hold on.
City come again as they search an equaliser and Doku is the dangerman.
Having just scored, the winger wants another as he drives at Wan-Bissaka and fizzes a shot which is blocked and almost falls to Alvarez inside the box, but Evans does well to get a toe in and clear.
City have one goal and it's Doku!
The winger cuts inside and fires a low shot towards the near post and the ball sneaks in despite the best efforts of Onana who should have done better.
Into the final five minutes at Wembley and United remain 2-0 ahead.
Can they hold on or will City spark a comeback?
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