CUPWARDLY MOBILE
Ten Hag wants Red Devils to keep the feel-good factor going into Cup Final and cause treble trouble for arch-rivals
ERIK TEN HAG vowed to take Manchester United’s winning form into Saturday’s FA Cup final showdown against Manchester City.
After ending the Premier League campaign with back-to-back wins, Ten Hag told fans his men were determined to lift the trophy at Wembley - and wreck their neighbour’s Treble bid in the process.
“There’s still one game to go and I’m sure these players will give everything to beat Manchester City,” said the Reds boss (right).
“I’m sure we have a really good chance to bring the cup back to Old Trafford.”
United ended the season in third place with 75 points, their highest total since 2017-18, when Jose Mourinho led them to second with 81.
After defeat to Brighton on the opening day, they did not lose again in the league at home, winning 15 and drawing three of those games.
A season that could have derailed after Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial exit and a 7-0 mauling at Liverpool, ended with United achieving their objectives – a top-four finish and a trophy in the shape of the
Carabao Cup. Yet United had to come from behind here, Fulham taking the lead in the 19th minute when Willian’s corner was met at the near post by Kenny Tete, who got away from Marcus Rashford to head powerfully home.
Fulham should have gone 2-0 up in the 26th minute when Casemiro tripped Tom Cairney to concede a penalty. Aleksandar Mitrovic took the spot-kick but David De Gea saved low to his left.
It was his first penalty save at Old
Trafford since 2014, when he denied
Everton’s
Leighton Baines and only his sixth from 36 he has faced in the Premier League.
United, buoyed by the let-off, laid siege to the Fulham goal, Rashford dragging a long-range shot just wide, while Alejandro Garnacho clipped the underside of the bar, then a minute later shot wide.
Casemiro was denied by Bernd Leno, but United levelled five minutes before the break, Jadon Sancho flicking the ball over the line after it spilled to him following a penetrating run from Fred.
Rashford squandered a chance 90 seconds after the restart, sending a dipping half volleyed effort wide.
But United took the lead in the 56th minute, Fred picking out Bruno Fernandes with an exquisite reverse pass, the Portuguese playmaker applying a clinical, lofted finish over Leno to make it 2-1.
United’s objective after that was seeing out the game without injuries to key men, which they did.
Focus now switches to Wembley and United’s chance to preserve their status as the only English club to win the Treble, by beating Pep Guardiola’s*city.