Manchester United’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City is a bitter way to end the season but the Reds can mark Erik ten Hag’s maiden term as success.
Fans will be satisfied with a top-four finish and a League Cup triumph given the woes of last season. They would have been frustrated with the manner they conceded the first goal to City at Wembley, though.
Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest-ever FA Cup final goal before Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser from the spot after the VAR adjudged Jack Grealish to have handled the ball.
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Gundogan popped up with the winner six minutes after half-time and, despite going close late on, United had no reply. Here are a number of things fans may have missed during the day at Wembley.
Erik ten Hag and Guardiola spat
Erik ten Hag and Pep Guardiola exchanged a few heated words after the VAR penalty decision. Guardiola was seen remonstrating with the fourth official before Ten Hag made his own feelings known.
The pair gave each other a warm handshake before kick-off and exchanged a warm embrace at full-time, showing it was just a moment of impassioned gesticulation.
Erik ten Hag takes time out to greet fan
Despite looking visibly crestfallen, Ten Hag still slapped the outstretched hands of fans as he walked up the Wembley steps to collect his runners-up medal. At the top of the initial flight, a spectator was waiting.
Ten Hag made sure to take time out to give him a big greeting, before walking up onto the open gantry. The United team was led up the stairs by Fernandes and club skipper Harry Maguire.
Glazer greeting on the gantry
United co-owner Avram Glazer was at Wembley to watch the final, the third time he’s visited the stadium this season. He, along with City owner Sheikh Mansour, was on the greeting gantry to commiserate the United players and shake their hands as they passed by.
Glazer remained on the gantry to congratulate City players on their success.
Weghorst bows out
In a roll of the dice, Wout Weghorst came on with 12 minutes to go. The Dutchman failed to make an impact on proceedings, much like the course of his short loan spell at United.
He was playing his second Wembley final having provided an assist for Marcus Rashford in February's League Cup triumph. It was also his last United outing with the club not planning on making his loan deal permanent this summer. He sank to his haunches when the full-time whistle blew.
Fernandes prompts Erik ten Hag
There was the usual pomp and ceremony that is seen before a modern-day FA Cup final before the national anthem was sung. It wasn’t Ten Hag’s first time at Wembley, of course, having been there to lift the League Cup.
But after shaking hands with the opposition as they passed during the pre-match rituals, captain Fernandes had to nudge his manager to himself move on to shake the hands of the referees after a humorous lapse of concentration.
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