Football, bloody hell
It's 25 years today since a famous Sir Alex Ferguson phrase passed into footballing parlance.
It emerged from the boss's mouth after his most famous victory. United had just scored twice in injury-time to complete the Treble and lift the European Cup.
Saturday's final wasn't quite as dramatic. Nothing could be. But ask any of the 40,000-thousand Reds packed into Wembley Stadium to describe their immediate feelings following the final whistle and that Sir Alex quote would probably have jumped to most minds.
Football, bloody hell.
Saturday's final wasn't quite as dramatic. Nothing could be. But ask any of the 40,000-thousand Reds packed into Wembley Stadium to describe their immediate feelings following the final whistle and that Sir Alex quote would probably have jumped to most minds.
Football, bloody hell.
Let's be honest, United weren't given a chance going into the 143rd Emirates FA Cup final. Some bookmakers had us 8/1 to lift the cup, double the price Championship side Coventry City had been to overcome us in the semi-finals.
While a disappointing league season was ending at Brighton last week, with United in eighth place, Manchester City were celebrating a fourth consecutive Premier League title. An unparallelled achievement in English football.
They had the chance to make further history. No club had ever won back-to-back Doubles. City were the fancied side, and there's no getting around that – terms like 'expecting a cricket score' were being bandied about in some quarters.
But this sport has a funny way of upending your expectations. Of taking you by surprise.
The first half at Wembley certainly did that. United kept City at bay in the first 30 minutes. It took our rivals 12 seconds to open the scoring last season but, bar a half-hearted penalty shout from the Sky Blues' forward Erling Haaland, they looked strangely subdued.
Then, it happened.
While a disappointing league season was ending at Brighton last week, with United in eighth place, Manchester City were celebrating a fourth consecutive Premier League title. An unparallelled achievement in English football.
They had the chance to make further history. No club had ever won back-to-back Doubles. City were the fancied side, and there's no getting around that – terms like 'expecting a cricket score' were being bandied about in some quarters.
But this sport has a funny way of upending your expectations. Of taking you by surprise.
The first half at Wembley certainly did that. United kept City at bay in the first 30 minutes. It took our rivals 12 seconds to open the scoring last season but, bar a half-hearted penalty shout from the Sky Blues' forward Erling Haaland, they looked strangely subdued.
Then, it happened.
United's hassling and harrying in the final third had clearly spooked City, and Josko Gvardiol's misjudged header bypassed Stefan Ortega to give Alejandro Garnacho the simplest of tap-ins. Easy peasy.
When do you see them concede a goal like that? Rarely, if ever.
There was barely time to take a breath and then we’d scored again. Hang on, the flag's up. Garnacho went too soon!
Next time, watch the line. He took the advice, holding the run and playing his part in the sumptuous second. A true team goal, if ever there was one.
United were in dreamland, but half-time came at the right time for City. It was a chance to regroup. The nervous feelings started to creep in. Surely they couldn't be that bad again in the second half?
A proper winger, Jeremy Doku added pace and directness to the attack when he came on. Aaron Wan-Bissaka did well to combat him, but the Belgian pulled one back after 87 minutes.
Before that, there were a couple of fine saves from Andre Onana and blocks, tackles and clearances galore.
The Reds ran themselves ragged, every drop of sweat met with applause, each yard covered cheered until voices were hoarse.
When do you see them concede a goal like that? Rarely, if ever.
There was barely time to take a breath and then we’d scored again. Hang on, the flag's up. Garnacho went too soon!
Next time, watch the line. He took the advice, holding the run and playing his part in the sumptuous second. A true team goal, if ever there was one.
United were in dreamland, but half-time came at the right time for City. It was a chance to regroup. The nervous feelings started to creep in. Surely they couldn't be that bad again in the second half?
A proper winger, Jeremy Doku added pace and directness to the attack when he came on. Aaron Wan-Bissaka did well to combat him, but the Belgian pulled one back after 87 minutes.
Before that, there were a couple of fine saves from Andre Onana and blocks, tackles and clearances galore.
The Reds ran themselves ragged, every drop of sweat met with applause, each yard covered cheered until voices were hoarse.
Your 2024 FA Cup winners: Manchester United! Video
Your 2024 FA Cup winners: Manchester United!
Watch the Reds lift the FA Cup trophy after we beat City in the Wembley sunshine...
Seven minutes added time. And boy did you feel every second. It seemed to stretch out for eternity.
All things must pass though.
Andy Madley's whistle was barely audible through the bedlam. Full-time: 2-1.
It was just Guardiola's fourth defeat of his 28 managerial final appearances. City's unbeaten run, dating back to early December, was over. As was Rodri's even more impressive personal sequence of 75 games without a loss.
United had done it, against all expectations, like so many great victories in our history. Football, eh? Bloody hell.
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