After a fairly dreadful campaign all round for Manchester United, the 2023/2024 FA Cup final could prove to be the saving grace for Erik ten Hag, as his side produced one of their strongest displays under the Dutch manager, as they held off the dominant City and secured silverware in back to back campaigns, and European football for next season. With the 2 scorers both coming through the youth system at the club, the momentum this win can gather for United ahead of a new campaign remains to be seen, but having silverware to end a season feels pretty damn good.

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Teams

Manchester United had their strongest options back fit and available ahead of the key game in the FA Cup final, with a strong back 4 selected amid worries that they would be forced into another makeshift defence. Additionally, Fernandes continued the recent false-9 role which worked perfectly, while the energy of those around him continued.

For City, they opted to stick with their cup keeper in Ortega, and made some changes at half-time in bringing on Doku which gave them a huge boost, and left Wan-Bissaka with plenty of work to do in the closing stages of the game.

Manchester City: Ortega, Gvardiol, Ake (Akanji 46′), Stones, Walker, Kovacic (Doku 46′), Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne (Alvarez 56′), Silva, Haaland

Subs: Carson, Nunes, Lewis, Dias, Grealish, Bobb

Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Martinez (Evans 73′), Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Mainoo, Amrabat, Rashford (Hojlund 74′), McTominay (Lindelof 90′), Garnacho (Mount 90′), Fernandes

Subs: Bayindir, Kambwala, Amad, Eriksen, Antony

Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United

Manchester United stunned Manchester City 2–1 at Wembley on 25 May 2024 to claim the 2023/24 FA Cup in a fiercely contested Manchester derby. United, under heavy scrutiny after an inconsistent league season, produced a brilliant first-half display that shocked the Premier League champions. Alejandro Garnacho pounced on a defensive mix-up between Stefan Ortega and Josko Gvardiol to open the scoring on the half-hour mark, finishing into an empty net. Minutes later, Kobbie Mainoo capped a slick United move with a composed side-footed finish, sending the red half of Wembley into delirium.

Manchester City, typically dominant in possession, struggled to create clear-cut chances before the interval. United’s defensive organisation, led superbly by Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martínez, frustrated Erling Haaland and his supporting cast. After the break, City increased the tempo, hitting the bar through Haaland and forcing André Onana into several strong saves. Pep Guardiola turned to his bench for inspiration, and it eventually came when Jérémy Doku cut inside and squeezed a late shot past Onana in the 87th minute, setting up a tense conclusion.

United, however, held their nerve in the dying minutes to secure a victory that not only earned them their 13th FA Cup, but also booked a place in Europe. It was a cathartic moment for Erik ten Hag’s side, especially coming against the rivals who had beaten them in the previous year’s final. As Bruno Fernandes lifted the trophy in front of the jubilant United supporters, City were left to reflect on missed chances and the end of their hopes for a domestic double.

Talking Points

Manchester United’s 2–1 win over Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final felt like a lifeline thrown at the end of a dreadful season. Under pressure and heavily criticised throughout the campaign, United produced their most complete performance when it mattered most, shocking the newly crowned Premier League champions with discipline, intensity and belief. For a team that had stumbled through injuries, inconsistency and scrutiny, lifting the FA Cup at Wembley wasn’t just a trophy, it was a statement that, even in their darkest moments, they could still rise to the occasion.

The victory also carried major practical consequences: European football secured. With their league finish leaving them outside the qualifying spots, United were staring at a season without continental competition for the first time in a decade. The FA Cup triumph changed everything. The win guaranteed their place in the Europa League, offering not only prestige but also crucial revenue, recruitment leverage and competitive momentum heading into next season. For a club of United’s stature, avoiding a year off the European stage was almost as important as the silverware itself.

But perhaps the most exciting takeaway from Wembley was the performance, and symbolism, of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. The two teenagers, who scored both United goals, delivered on the biggest stage with a maturity well beyond their years. Garnacho’s fearless running and opportunistic finish, combined with Mainoo’s composure and intelligence in midfield, gave fans a glimpse of what the club’s future could look like. In a season defined by frustration, the academy duo injected hope, reminding supporters that amid all the turbulence, the next generation is already shining.