Manchester United head coach Eric ten Hag spoke after the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City, reflecting on the performance and the season as a whole. The press office provided the session and later released statements that highlighted the club’s mindset and future path.
He emphasized the rare challenge of facing a City side capable of quick strikes and praised the team’s mentality and character under pressure. Ten Hag noted that there is room to improve in possession and build play, framing the setback as a necessary step forward for the squad. He described the season as successful in aggregate and suggested the squad would use the experience to sharpen their execution in big matches.
The competition took place on May 4, with City securing a 2-1 victory in a tightly contested final. The opening goal came early as İlkay Gündoğan found the net for City, setting the tone for the evening. Bruno Fernandes demonstrated composure from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute to level the score, converting an 11-meter opportunity to keep United alive in the contest.
At the start of the second half, Gündoğan added a second goal, decisively tilting the balance in City’s favor. The decisive moment underscored City’s ability to control key phases of play and to execute under pressure in finals, a performance noted by observers as a blend of precision and resilience.
As the season concluded, City were crowned FA Cup champions for the 2022/2023 campaign, adding a seventh trophy in the competition to their growing collection. The club also secured the English league title, highlighting a domestic double for Pep Guardiola’s side. Looking ahead, City prepared for the Champions League final, set to face Inter on June 10, a contrast of styles and a test of the team’s consistency on the sport’s biggest stage. The build to that match was framed by an overarching narrative about dominance in English football and the pursuit of continental glory, underscoring the prestige and pressure of competing across multiple fronts. (City Football Group)