FA Cup

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FA Cup | Final

May 25, 2024 at 3pm UK

Wembley Stadium

Man City
1 - 2
Man Utd

Doku (87')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Garnacho (30'), Mainoo (39')
Mainoo (45'), Alvarez (90+7'), McTominay (90+5')

Pep Guardiola critical of Manchester City 'game plan' after losing FA Cup final

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 25 May 2024

Guardiola critical of Man City 'game plan' after losing FA Cup final

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits that he got his tactics wrong in his side's 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that he got his tactics wrong in his side's 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Six days after winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, Man City were bidding to become the first-ever English team to win the league and FA Cup double in successive seasons.

Guardiola made a total of three changes to the side that beat West Ham United 3-1 last weekend, with John Stones, Nathan Ake and Mateo Kovacic all brought in for Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Jeremy Doku.

However, the Citizens boss reversed two of those during the half-time internal by bringing on Akanji and Doku for Ake and Kovacic in response to Man United's impressive first-half display that brought goals from teenage duo Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Garnacho opened the scoring on the half-hour mark and was the beneficiary of a defensive mix-up between Man City's Stefan Ortega and Josko Gvardiol, allowing the Argentine to tap the ball into an empty net. Mainoo then finished off a sweeping Red Devils attack to double their advantage eight minutes later.

Manchester City's Phil Foden and Erling Braut Haaland look dejected on May 25, 2024 © Reuters

Guardiola admits tactics "didn't work"

Man City dominated the second half in possession and applied pressure in attack; Erling Haaland hit the crossbar and Kyle Walker had two long-range shots saved by Andre Onana, before Doku - who made a superb impact off the bench - pulled a goal back four minutes from time.

However, Erik ten Hag's Man United held on to claim the bragging rights and end Man City's 35-game unbeaten run in all competitions en route to winning their 13th FA Cup.

Guardiola has congratulated Man United for their FA Cup triumph, but the City boss was disappointed with the result and the tactics deployed by himself at Wembley.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Guardiola said: "Congratulations to Manchester United for winning the FA Cup. I think my game plan was not good.

"We were not in the right positions to attack them. It was my decision. The players were focused. Tactically, it was not good. The players know the reason why. You plan for a game and different positions, but it didn't work. As always against United, we had control but, [not] like we did in the second half, we couldn't create.

"The second half was much, much better. We were more intense, in part because we were 2-0 down and had nothing to lose. It was a tight game. We gave away the first goal, they made a good transition for the second so credit to United for the second goal.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Manuel Akanji look dejected after the match on May 25, 2024 © Reuters

"We tried. We had clear chances in the second half which wasn't easy because they had man marking and defended the pockets but we had the chances and unfortunately we scored a goal a little bit late. Maybe it could have been different but the team was there like all the time when we lose.

"Disappointed today, it's normal teams can lose finals but this season has been extraordinary fighting for all the trophies in a good way. We will rest and come back next season."

Guardiola proud of Premier League success

Guardiola is confident that his Man City side will bounce back quickly from their FA Cup disappointment in 2024-25, adding: "We talk and now we are sad, but we celebrate what an incredible achievement we have done and come back, cutting inside from the left and firing a shot past Onana at his near post.

"In football and in life you win and lose but like in the second half we never gave up. The feeling of course when you lose a final you are disappointed, but we celebrated this week the joy of the Premier League.

"We make 91 points because we have won a lot of points, in general really, really good. You have to be so proud and to celebrate what we have done."

Man City have confirmed that an open-top bus parade will take place in Manchester City centre on Sunday to celebrate their Premier League title success.