TOP GUN AT DOUBLE
Skipper Ilkay’s two volleyed goals have put Guardiola’s heroes so close to history now
MANCHESTER CITY’S biggest rivals could not stop them doing the Double – and now history beckons.
Two sensational volleys from skipper Ilkay Gundogan clinched the FA Cup at Wembley and the oldest trophy in English football now sits alongside the Premier League title in City’s cabinet.
So, it is onto Istanbul and the chance of a Treble.
Manchester United’s team of 1999 have stood alone at the summit of English football for 24 years.
But if Pep Guardiola’s side beat Inter Milan at the Ataturk Stadium on Saturday night, then immortality is also theirs.
Sir Alex Ferguson was there to see the gulf in class between these two Manchester giants for himself. City were well below their fluent best – and credit goes to United boss Erik ten Hag for coming up with a tactical plan that frustrated the champions.
Erling Haaland hardly got a sniff of goal and Kevin De Bruyne was snuffed out by Fred.
But this City team have so many weapons – and Gundogan made it his final.
The German secured a place in the record books by scoring the quickest goal in the final’s 151-year history after just 12.91 seconds.
And, after United dragged themselves level through Bruno Fernandes’ penalty following a controversial VAR decision, Gundogan conjured up another volley to secure the trophy six minutes into the second half.
It was not the only dodgy call that went the Reds’ way.
Casemiro could have seen red for a studs-up chop on Manuel Akanji’s shin and Fred escaped a penalty-area body-check on De Bruyne. Referees’ chief Howard Webb was there – and he has got a job to do.
Guardiola stuck by his promise to play back-up keeper Stefan Ortega. In front of him were the 10 players who demolished Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Ten Hag’s plan was for Fred to help Casemiro prevent the champions from establishing their usual midfield domination.
Jadon Sancho, Christian Eriksen and Fernandes were asked to support lone striker
Marcus Rashford. But City were ahead in the blink of an eye.
Forget tiki-taka – it was route one. Ortega’s launched ball was headed on by Haaland and De Bruyne.
And, when the ball dropped, Gundogan marched forward to unleash a volley so fierce that it ripped past David de Gea’s left shoulder before he could move.
City should then have taken the game away.
Akanji, Jack Grealish, Haaland and De Bruyne all threatened as United froze. Then VAR struck. Aaron Wan Bissaka’s header brushed Grealish’s hand with the midfielder no more than a yard away.
VAR ref David Coote felt it warranted another look and, once referee Paul Tierney was summoned over to the monitor, the decision had been made. And after 33 minutes spent on the back foot, United were level when Bruno Fernandes sent Ortega the wrong way.
When Raphael Varane volleyed a decent chance over, it was clear that the Reds had been resuscitated.
But City regrouped at the break and were ahead again when Fred went careering clumsily into De Bruyne wide on the right.
The midfield maestro had been well below his best – but he dragged his free-kick expertly back to the edge of the box where Gundogan was lurking.
The German’s first goal had been with his right foot.
This time, he brought the hammer down with his left boot and it carried too much power and precision for De Gea to keep out. De Bruyne fired against De Gea’s legs when he should have scored before Rashford delivered a warning that there was still life in United with a 30-yarder that dipped just too late.
Gundogan thought he had claimed the match ball when he swept home after Haaland had failed to beat De Gea from close range, but he had moved to an offside position.
United were lifted in the closing stages by the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentinian teenager was inches away with a curling effort.
And City had another escape in injury time when substitute Scott Mctominay’s close-range effort was deflected up against the crossbar by Ortega.
But City deserved the spoils – and now it is two down, with one to go for that historic Treble.