I dedicate the FA cup to Bruno Fernandes, he is such a fantastic player – Hear what Eric Ten Hag said about Fernandes that made the whole Man Utd senior players shead TEARS of joy
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Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United: FA Cup final – as it happened
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo got the goals as Erik ten Hag’s side stunned their noisy neighbours and ran out deserving winners
Read David Hytner’s match report from Wembley Stadium
Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag lifts the trophy to celebrate their victory at the end of the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United.
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Barry Glendenning
Sat 25 May 2024 17.47 BST
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Key events
17.47 BST
A word from Pep Guardiola …
BBC reporter Kelly Somers is tasked with prising some post-match soundbites from the losing manager and it’s a difficult interview despite her heroic efforts.
She asks him where he thinks it went wrong and is greeted with an exaggerated shoulder-shrug. “Went wrong?” he repeats. “We lost the game and congratulations Man United. It was a tight game and after we concede a goal and in the second half, after the first five or 10 minutes we had the chances and we change our pace up front … mumble, mumble, mumble … and congratulations to Man United.”
Asked if he feels United were the better team, he shakes his head and says “No.” He goes on to explain that it was simply a case of City not taking their chances.
Updated at 17.49 BST
17.38 BST
Ten Hag doesn’t know if he is being sacked
Asked if he thinks he’s been treated unfairly by the media, Ten Hag says to Gary Lineker: “I think so, the team as well. It was not right.”
Alan Shearer interjects to say that United have rarely been as good as they were today and often deserved whatever criticism came their way. “You are right but we didn’t have the players,” comes the riposte. “It was not always good football, definitely not, but if you don’t have the players you can’t play the football you want to play.”
Is it his last game in charge of United? “I don’t know,” he says. “The only thing I am doing is training my team, preparing my team, developing my team because this is for me a project. When I came in, I can say it was a mess and we are now better but we are by far not where we want to be.”
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag and captain Bruno Fernandes celebrate with the trophy after their team’s 2-1 victory during the Emirates FA Cup final.
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag and captain Bruno Fernandes celebrate with the trophy. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
Updated at 18.48 BST
17.31 BST
Erik ten Hag speaks to the BBC …
“Compliments to the team, they played very good, to our identity … very strong,” he says. “You have seen that when we have the players on board, how we can play to our philosophy. Some are not fit, expecially not match fit but I think the performance was very good.”
“I tell you all year this,” he says, when Gary Lineker asks how big a difference it makes having his best defenders back from injury. “I tell you this all year. When the players are fit, we can play good football and you’ve seen a very good performance against the best team in the world, I think.”
Erik Ten Hag with the trophy after the F.A. Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25th 2024.
Erik Ten Hag grasps the trophy as he takes in his side’s victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Updated at 18.52 BST
17.24 BST
Manchester CIty 1-2 Manchester United
Match report: Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scored the goals as Manchester United ran out deserving winners in arguably their finest and possibly final performance under Erik ten Hag. Our chief football correspondent David Hytner reports from Wembley …
Manchester United win FA Cup after Garnacho and Mainoo stun City
Updated at 17.24 BST
17.20 BST
Bruno hoists the FA Cup skywards
At the front of the stand’s second tier, surrounded by his teammates, Bruno Fernades triumphantly raises the FA Cup to the heavens, before handing it down the line for everyone else to have their moment in the spotlight. When everyone has had their turn, Andre Onoana hands it to Erik Ten Hag, who accepts the trophy sheepishly before planting a smacker on it and raising it himself.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes lifts the trophy with teammates after winning the Emirates FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes lifts the trophy with teammates. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag kisses the trophy to celebrate their victory at the end of the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United.
Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag kisses the trophy. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
Updated at 18.55 BST
17.17 BST
United’s players receive their medals
Prince William is handing out the silverware, with his blazered-up and booted young son George supervising proceedings. They’ll be handing the famous old trophy over to Bruno Fernandes …
Updated at 17.17 BST
17.14 BST
Manchester United’s players head upstairs: Erik Ten Hag leads his team up the Wembley steps |(|there are 107 in total to negotiate) to collect the FA Cup. No matter what the next few days have in store for him,. he can be very proud of his own and his team’s effort today.
Updated at 17.14 BST
17.12 BST
Manchester City: While most City fans have already left Wembley, their players have to hang around for the formalities. They’re currently receiving their runners-up medals from Prince William.
Updated at 17.12 BST
17.07 BST
How this effects qualification for Europe: Manchester United’s win means they get a spot in the Europa League, while Chelsea drop to the Europa Conference League and Newcastle miss out altogether.
Updated at 17.08 BST
17.04 BST
United’s goalscorers speak …
Alejandro Garnacho: “It’s an incredible feeling because nobody believes in us,” he tells the BBC. “We are a team, we are all together with these incredible fans and it is a special moment for us. Me and Kobbie got the goals but all throughout the team we fought as if it was the last game of our lives so we are very happy.”
Kobbie Mainoo: “Absolutely everything,” says the man of the match, upon being asked what victory means to him. “It’s been a tough season of ups and downs and recently the only thing we’ve had to look forward to is this final. Last year I was in the stands watching because I wasn’t involved so it’s incredible for me today.”
Manchester United’s goalscorers Alejandro Garnacho (left) and Kobbie Mainoo celebrate their team’s victory. Photograph: John Walton/PA
Updated at 17.05 BST
16.59 BST
Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
Full time: It’s all over at Wembley, where Manchester United have ended a season that was little short of shambolic by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup. They are unexpected but deserving winners, after putting on a terrific display of resilience and obduracy, while taking two of the few chances that came their way. Where have they been all season? Right now, m oments after they’ve signed off from a disappointing season with a flourish, their fans won’t care.
Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag (centre) celebrates with his players after winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernades celebrates at the final whistle. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
Updated at 18.54 BST
16.56 BST
90+7 min: Doku overhits a cross to the far post but it’s kept in play. United break upfield, Hojlund gets the better of Alveraz as his teammates flood forward and Amrabat wins a free-kick. Alvarez is booked and one suspects that might just be that … it is indeed – Manchester United have defied the odds to win the FA Cup.
Updated at 16.56 BST
16.54 BST
90+6 min: Bernardo Silva cuts in from the left but his attempted cross is blocked by Dalot and the ball ricochets out for a United goal kick off John Stones.
Updated at 16.54 BST
16.53 BST
90+4 min: Spotting Stefan Ortega off his line, Bruno Fernandes tries his luck from a long way out. It’s not a terrible effort but the ball bounces harmlessly wide.
Updated at 16.53 BST
16.52 BST
90+3 min: Man Utd double-substitution: Mason Mount (a three-times FA Cup final loser) and Victor Lindelof on for Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho.
Updated at 16.52 BST
16.50 BST
90+2 min: Aaron Wan-Bissaka sticks out a leg to put the ball out for a corner as Doku tries to wriggle in behind him at the byline. Onana comfortably claims the subsequent inswinger.
Updated at 16.50 BST
16.49 BST
90 min: All eyes turn to the fourth official, who is pressing the buttons on his electronic witch portal as we reach the end of normal time. We’ll have a minimum of seven minutes of added time. How are your nerves, United and City fans?
Updated at 16.49 BST
16.47 BST
89 min: Doku cuts inside from the right again, squaring the ball across the United penalty area in a bid to pick out Haaland. Aaron Wan-Bissaka manages to scramble it clear.
Updated at 16.47 BST
16.46 BST
GOAL! Man City 1-2 Man United (Doku 87)
City pull a goal back! Jeremy Doku cuts inside on his right foot and from a couple of yards outside the penalty area, pulls a shot into the bottom corner, beating Onana at his near post. It’s a fine strike but the United goalkeeper should not have let it in.
Jeremy Doku fires home to pull a goal back for Manchester City. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Doku celebrates. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
Updated at 16.52 BST
16.44 BST
86 min: Attendance watch: 84,814 souls.
Updated at 16.44 BST
16.44 BST
85 min: Onana hoofs the ball upfield with all his might but it’s back at his feet within seconds. He goes long again, picking out Hojlund on the halfway line.
Updated at 16.44 BST
16.42 BST
83 min: City continue to dominate but the clock is against them. This has been an outstanding performance from Manchester United and their beleaguered manager, who are seven minutes and whatever time is added on away from making fools of us all.
Updated at 16.42 BST
16.40 BST
82 min: City corner. The inswinger is palmed clear by Onana.
Updated at 16.40 BST
16.40 BST
80 min: Into the final 10 minutes we go and Rasmus Hojland wins a fairly cheap free-kick for his team, just outside the City penalty area, well right of centre. Bruno Fernandes shapes to curl a cross towards the far post but then shoots straight at Ortega, who is wise to his ruse.
Updated at 16.40 BST
16.38 BST
79 min: It’s Foden who strikes the dead ball and he shoots straight into the United wall.
Updated at 16.38 BST
16.37 BST
78 min: Free-kick just outside the United penalty area, almost straight in front of the United penalty area for an Amrabat shove on Doku. This is a chance and Alvarez takes the ball.
Updated at 16.37 BST
16.36 BST
77 min: Another long-range tester from Walker, another save from Onana, who pushes the ball into the path of Haaland. The Norweigian is immediately and correctly flagged for offside.
Updated at 16.36 BST
16.34 BST
76 min: Haaland screams for a penalty as he goes to ground under a bit of a grapple from Mainoo as the ball came in from a City corner. Not today, Erling.
Updated at 16.34 BST
16.33 BST
73 min: Manchester United double-substitution: Jonny Evans and Rasmus Hojlund on for Martinez and Rashford. Doku tries to chivvy Martinezalong as he walks off ther pitch, prompting the Manchester United defender to dawdle even more. At this point, Kyle Walker gets up in the Martinez grill, finger-wagging furiously and slowing the whole process down even further.
Updated at 16.33 BST
16.30 BST
70 min: With Doku hugging one touchline and Bernardo Silva on the other, City have stretched the play and are posing United far more problems than they did in the first half. Lisandro Martinez is down with cramp, this being just his second start since early February. He’s been outstanding today, as has Raphael Varane alongside him.
Updated at 16.30 BST
16.27 BST
68 min: Shaping as if to cross from the right side of the City penalty area, Garnacho elects to shoot instead. Ortega saves at his near post but puts the ball out for United’s first corner of the match. Nothing comes of it.
Updated at 16.27 BST
16.25 BST
66 min: John Stones shoots from 30 yards but was leaning back as he struck the ball and sends it high over the bar, earning himself sarcastic cheers from United’s fans.
Updated at 16.25 BST
16.24 BST
64 min: Alvarez misses a glorious chance to halve City’s deficit. Running on to a short pass in behind from Foden, he finds himself in a one-on-one with Onana. The substitute looks a certainty to slide the ball into the far corner from seven yards out but ends up sending it a couple of feet the wrong side of the upright. It’s a bad miss.
Julian Alvarez sticks the ball the wrong side of the upright. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images
Updated at 16.39 BST
16.22 BST
63 min: At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, one suspects the next goal in this game will be absolutely crucial. Another one for United would surely knock the stuffing out of City, but if Pep’s men were to pull a goal back, you’d give them every chance of going on to win this final.
Updated at 16.22 BST
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Topics
FA Cup
Manchester CityManchester United
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