Ten Hag faces Man Utd judgement day as Man City eye history in FA Cup final
24th May 2024
United go into the game having lost 6 of the last 7 Manchester Derbies.
![Erik ten Hag. PHOTO| AFP](https://www.sportpesanews.com/images/large/erik_ten_hag__photo__afp_51d0169047.jpg)
- Last year, City beat United 2-1 in the final on route to an incredible treble-winning campaign that included Premier League and Champions League glory.
- City are bidding to become the first English club to win both the Premier League and FA Cup two years in a row.
- United must lift the Cup for the first time in eight years to avoid their first season without European action since 2014/15.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hopes to bolster his
chances of avoiding the sack by ruining Manchester City's historic bid in the
FA Cup final on Saturday.
For the second successive season, Wembley will stage a
Manchester derby in the showpiece fixture.
Last year, City beat United 2-1 in the final on route to an
incredible treble-winning campaign that included Premier League and Champions
League glory.
City remain England's pre-eminent force, as they showed by clinching an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title last weekend.
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United left Wembley still optimistic about the future
despite that defeat 12 months ago because Ten Hag had ended their six-year
trophy drought by winning the League Cup earlier in the season.
But the Red Devils return to north London shaken by a
turbulent campaign that leaves the Dutchman fighting to save his job.
United finished eighth in the Premier League - their lowest
final position since 1990 - and failed even to make it out of the Champions
League group stage.
Ten Hag has blamed United's woes on injuries, but that might
not convince the club's new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to keep faith with him.
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The Dutch coach reportedly caused friction among his squad
after clashing with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, setting the tone for a
series of embarrassing defeats against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Fulham,
Copenhagen and Galatasaray among others.
United only made it to the FA Cup final after blowing a
three-goal lead and surviving a penalty shootout against second-tier Coventry
in a semi-final that underlined the flaws in Ten Hag's erratic team.
England boss Gareth Southgate, former Chelsea manager
Mauricio Pochettino and Ipswich chief Kieran McKenna have all been linked with
the Old Trafford job.
Ten Hag's hopes of staying at United into a third season
would be improved if they can spoil City's bid to become the first English club
to win both the Premier League and FA Cup two years in a row.
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"I came here to win trophies," Ten Hag said.
"I'm just focusing on the job I have to do. That is first to win the game
on Saturday and then keep going in the project."
Beaten in six of the past seven Manchester derbies, United
must lift the Cup for the first time in eight years to avoid their first season
without European action since 2014/15.
A Europa League place is hardly the prize United fans dream
of, but Andre Onana, the club's goalkeeper, wants to repay their support with
victory at Wembley.
Onana, who has endured an error-strewn first campaign at
United, said: "It's been a difficult season for them and for us.
"For me, it was difficult at the start and they were
behind me so I'm very thankful. Let's end on Saturday at Wembley. We will fight
until the end."
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City's dominant reign in the Premier League has extended to
six titles in seven years, a dynastic spell that has led many pundits to label
them the greatest English team of all time.
Pep Guardiola's men pipped Arsenal by two points after
winning their last nine league games, leaving them on the brink of more history
at Wembley this weekend.
"To do what we've done year in, year out, I don't think
many teams would be able to do that, especially in this Premier League,"
City captain Kyle Walker said as he contemplated a potential second successive
double.
Walker believes Guardiola's drive and intensity are central
to City's seemingly unquenchable thirst for success.
"I think it starts from the manager, first and
foremost. He's addicted to winning. He is addicted and it rubs off on us,"
he said.
Ominously for United, City playmaker Bernardo Silva said his
side, who have won the FA Cup twice in the Guardiola era, are at their best
when the stakes are highest.
"Sometimes at the beginning of the season when we don't have that much pressure, the team relaxes when it shouldn't and at the end of the season we always compensate for it," he said.
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