Manchester City’s dream of a rare triple championship is one step away from being fulfilled. On Saturday, City defeated local opposition United 2–1 in the final match of the English FA Cup. Having also won the Premier League, City only needs a Champions League win to complete the treble.
Among the Englishmen, only Manchester United has succeeded in that treble in the legendary 1998–99 season.
City and United met for the first time in the final of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world, organized from the season 1871–72.
The match had barely started, when the ball was already in the goal in London’s football sanctuary, Wembley. Ilkay Gundogan shook the ball from 20 meters stunningly into the top corner by the City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after a long opening.
Initially, the goal was reported to have taken 13 seconds, but the lightning goal was specified to 12 seconds, and it is the fastest final goal in FA Cup history. The previous record was Louis Sahallawho scored for Everton against Chelsea 25 seconds into the 2009 final.
– The ball came to me wonderfully, and I just had to hit it. That must have been a pretty good shot, Gündogan told the BBC.
United got the worst on the half-hour mark when the ball hit in a centering situation Jack Grealish on. He sunk the penalty kick into the goal Bruno Fernandes.
– A massive moment, because City have completely controlled the match. This gave United tremendous energy, said the former England national team player on the BBC Jermaine Jenas.
In the whole match, City took control of the ball 60–40, but the scoring attempts were recorded for United 13–11 and even the expected goal went in ManU’s favor 1.53–1.15.
Although City’s grip slipped at the end of the opening period, United did not have enough means to stop their local rival’s jubilant march.
In the end, the biggest hero of the match was 32-year-old midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, who scored a 2-1 winning goal in the 51st minute.
Kevin De Bruyne gave a corner kick in an arc outside the penalty area. Gündogan shot the ball straight out of the air into the net and with his even weaker, left foot. On top of that, the ball seemed to hit mostly Gündogan’s leg, but still David De Gea couldn’t save a shot from the bottom corner.
– United’s goalkeeper situation is a big problem. You win games with top-class goalkeepers and I don’t think United have that, criticized the BBC pundit Chris Sutton.
The contract of De Gea, who has represented ManU since 2011, is coming to an end, and no agreement has yet been reached on a new contract extension.
Likewise, Gündogan’s contract at City ends. City wants to sign an extension, but Barcelona, among others, is known to be after the German.
A brighter future for United
Manchester United took steps forward after their chaotic seasons with the Dutch pilot Erik ten Hag in the first season. In the Premier League, the team finished sixth in the 2021–22 season, now third. This is how United will return to the Champions League next season.
In the FA Cup, United advanced to the final after a four-year break and also won the League Cup in the winter, which was the club’s first trophy in six years.
Ten Hag said that he has only one thought for the future: to develop the club and the team. Also a United goalkeeper legend Peter Schmeichel beamed on the BBC about the team’s season and future, considering the starting point of the season.
– This team showed tenacity, character and personality. We know we have a long way to go, but this is what makes us better. It was a test for us, we didn’t succeed, but we can take a lot of positives into the next season, Ten Hag stated after the defeat.
Ten Hag was particularly upset about the conceded goals, because according to him they were “soft and avoidable”.
Ten Hag wants to continue strengthening its team during the summer. Chelsea’s midfielder has been linked to the club in rumours, among others Mason Mount and Tottenham’s star striker Harry Kane.
The possible sale of Manchester United has also been in the news for a long time. The Glazer family, which owns the club, was watching the FA Cup final, but did not comment on the club’s ownership situation.
“We can talk about triple”
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola stated after the match that “now we can start talking about the triple”.
– This was so important to us. The FA Cup is so nice. I am a Barcelona fan, but I will love this club for the rest of my life. I know that today we gave our fans a good gift to enjoy against our neighbors, Guardiola beamed.
Guardiola urged to enjoy the time leading up to next Saturday’s Champions League final.
– We are in a situation that we will probably never end up in again.
Guardiola also added that he has already put pressure on his players.
– I told the players that they have to put pressure on themselves. That they have to win in Europe to be recognized as good players.