Manchester United, the underdogs in Saturday’s FA Cup contest put up an unexpected display and bit off Manchester City’s quest for another double this season.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo gave United a 2-0 half-time lead and United perhaps, played their best 45 minutes this season in the second half to deny City the privilege of being the first side to win a double back to back in English football.
Mainoo and Garnacho became the first pair of teenagers to score in an FA Cup final.
Jeremy Doku pulled one back in the 87th minute, but United held on to their lead to give under pressure manager Erik ten Hag a breather.
“It is an incredible win. Nobody believed in us but this day with these fans is an incredible moment for us. We fought like it was the last game of our lives and we are very happy,”Garnacho said.
Mainoo the man of the match added:
“It means absolutely everything. It’s been a tough season of ups and downs and recently all we’ve had to look forward to is this final. It’s so big to win it back after last year. I was in the stands watching then. It’s incredible. We knew we had to come together and the staff and players this week have been amazing.”
Speaking on the loss Man City boss, Pep Guardiola admitted that he didn’t get his tactics right.
“It was because of my decisions, we were not in the right positions to attack them. It was my mistake, my game plan was not good.
“The players know the reason why. Tactically, it was not good, I had a feeling it was not good. It didn’t work, as simple as that.”
He added that the loss was not as a result hang over from celebrating their fourth straight Premier League title.
“No, completely the opposite, they were focused,” he said.
“How we reacted in the second-half was very good.”
