Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, known for his tactical mastery, was forced to shoulder the blame after his team’s surprising 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday. This loss shattered City’s hopes of achieving a historic second consecutive English double.
Just a week prior, City had celebrated an unprecedented feat – clinching their fourth Premier League title in a row. Basking in the afterglow of this achievement, they entered the Wembley showpiece as overwhelming favourites against their city rivals. However, their aura of invincibility was shattered as United, desperate to salvage a lacklustre season, produced a performance of grit and determination.
The Red Devils’ youthful exuberance proved too much to handle for City’s normally composed defence. Teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo silenced the expectant City fans with first-half goals, effectively ending City’s 35-match unbeaten run in all competitions (excluding cup finals). United, deploying a strategy of quick counter-attacks, exploited vulnerabilities in a City backline featuring the surprise selection of John Stones alongside Nathan Ake.
Despite the setback, Guardiola, a manager accustomed to silverware (having collected 15 major trophies for City since 2016), acknowledged United’s triumph. “Congratulations to Manchester United for winning the FA Cup,” he conceded to reporters. He went on to take responsibility for his team’s performance, stating, “I think my game plan was not good.”
While acknowledging tactical shortcomings, Guardiola highlighted the improved second-half display from his team. The introduction of Jeremy Doku sparked a period of sustained pressure, with City laying siege to the United goal. However, Doku’s solitary goal proved a mere consolation prize, as City’s dream of becoming the first team to win successive English doubles evaporated.
The FA Cup defeat, though a bitter pill to swallow, doesn’t diminish the brilliance of City’s season overall. Guardiola’s men can still boast about adding the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup titles to their trophy cabinet. “Disappointed today, it’s normal teams can lose finals, but this season has been extraordinary fighting for all the trophies in a good way,” Guardiola reflected.
In a display of sportsmanship, Guardiola even offered words of encouragement to his counterpart, Erik ten Hag, whose future at United remains uncertain despite the FA Cup triumph. “They have to take a decision [about his future],” Guardiola said. “He’s a lovely person and an extraordinary manager. Winning the FA Cup is important for them like last season it was for us.”
The 2023 FA Cup final will be remembered as a day when youthful exuberance trumped experience. Manchester United, defying the odds, secured a morale-boosting victory, while Manchester City, though disappointed, can still look back on a remarkable season.
