Manchester United may have won the League Cup earlier this season, but in their second final at Wembley this season, they ultimately lost 2-1 to Manchester City in the FA Cup. This means United have failed to snatch an important piece of silverware away from their big rivals and ended the season with ‘just’ one trophy. But what they will feel bad about is the manner in which it happened, as Ilkay Gundogan scored a brace of volleys, one with his left and one with his right foot. Bruno Fernandes’ goal from the spot after 33 minutes was enough only to equalise for a while, but Pep Guardiola’s side managed to get on top and complete the domestic double.
Man United Caught Napping
When mentioning the manner in which United lost, it must be pointed out they conceded after mere 12 seconds of play. The final had barely started and City were already up by a goal, with Stefan Ortega launching the ball forward, before Kevin de Bruyne assisted Gundogan for the opener. If there is one side a team should not go behind against so early into the match, that team must be Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. They adore getting an early lead and slowly growing into the match, keeping the ball away from the opposition. Man United should be credited with coming back into the match and making it a proper contest, but ultimately, their early napping proved costly.
Bruno The Man For Big Occasions
Man City’s lead last up until just after the half hour mark, when Bruno Fernandes kept his cool to score from the penalty spot. Jack Grealish was the one who played the ball with his hand and although it did not seem like a penalty at first, the Portuguese star managed to do what every Man United fan expected of him. In a high pressure moment, Bruno proved once again that he is the player for big occasions. He also created three chances for his teammates, finishing the match as virtually the only Man United’s attacking player able to showcase his qualities on a big day.
De Gea’s Weaknesses Highlighted
Heading into this match, David De Gea was uncertain of his future and whether he would be offered a new contract. The Spaniard has been far from his best for years now and this match further highlighted all the problems his inabilities can create for the team. De Gea managed to prove his doubters wrong by not managing to stop Gundogan from scoring his second goal, a long range shot that was not of such a great quality. But it was not only that goal that was the problem. His poor distribution was highlighted again against a team that loves to press the back line and United were therefore way too often under a lot of pressure from City attackers. His long balls were inaccurate too, which meant United were not able to bypass the press by going long. Whether De Gea will stay at Old Trafford remains to be seen, but it is increasingly tough to see what is the Spaniard offering to this team to remain the number one goalkeeper for years to come.