It was an incredible way to end Erik ten Hag’s reign as Man United manager, should it come to that.
Ten Hag and United shocked reigning champion Manchester City 2-1 to win the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday, amid widespread rumours that he is about to be dismissed.
After receiving his medal from Prince William, the future king of England, the Dutchman ended a difficult campaign with a trophy for the second time in as many seasons.
Will his job be saved by it?
“It’s not good enough, we need to improve, and if they don’t want me anymore, I go win trophies somewhere else because that’s what I did my entire career,” a stubborn Ten Hag said. “We are building a team, and Manchester United was in disarray when I took over.”
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo goals in the first half secured the victory. After the interval, City increased their pressure and replacement Jeremy Doku ultimately pulled one back late in the game.
From the executive seats at Wembley, United’s owners were observing and had a choice to make.
Jim Ratcliffe, the new co-owner, said, “We are all very proud of the players and the staff who work tirelessly to support them.”
The British billionaire is making major changes at United after purchasing a 27.7% share in the team in February. Regardless of the cup final victory, there is a general expectation that Ten Hag will be the next victim of his makeover.
After this victory, which denied crosstown rival City the first English league and cup triple in back-to-back years and saw United earn a spot in the Europa League for the next year, that idea will be put to the test.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, admitted that his game plan was flawed.
As United absorbed the pressure and pounced to take control by halftime, Ten Hag had perfected his methods.
In the thirty-minute mark, Garnacho scored the first goal, sending terror through City’s defence as he chased down a hesitant ball from Diogo Dalot deep in his half. Josko Gvardiol was faster to the ball, but Stefan Ortega, the charging City custodian, missed his headed back pass, giving Garnacho an open goal to tap in.
If the first goal was fortunate, United’s second goal came from a brilliant attack nine minutes later, with Garnacho at the centre once again as he cut in from the right flank and fed Bruno Fernandes.
With a first-time no-look ball from the United skipper, Mainoo coolly tapped past Ortega.
The final was a rematch of the one City won 2-1 the year before, and Pep Guardiola’s squad refused to give up the prize easily. The 87th minute long-range strike by Doku set for an exciting conclusion.
By then, Erling Haaland had struck the crossbar, Kyle Walker had made two tremendous saves from goalie Andre Onana, and replacement Julian Alvarez had missed the mark from close range with only the keeper to beat.
United has won 13 FA Cups overall, one less than Arsenal’s record of 14. And after his League Cup victory the previous year, this marks Ten Hag’s second trophy.
After the final whistle, players and staff greeted him on the pitch, and supporters erupted in jubilant applause as he made his way to get the trophy in front of American co-owners Joel and Avram Glazer and Ratcliffe.
But victory followed United’s poorest league campaign in thirty-four years.
“The season has been difficult, with ups and downs. We have simply got to look forward to this, remarked Mainoo. “We were aware that we needed to unite. This game has been well prepared for. We’ve shown our ability to play and win games.
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