Saudis to Roc boat
passing his peak. This is a player who should be playing in a team collecting more than the odd trophy.
His performance at Wembley showed just that. With and without the ball, he was terrific.
When Manchester City pinged the ball about, it was he who was orchestrating the defence from the very front.
In a bold move, Erik ten Hag put him in as the false nine with Rasmus Hojlund on the bench.
It paid off. Fernandes hassled and harried when United were letting City have the ball but making sure there were no gaps for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions to find.
It was Alejandro Garnacho who was shrewd for the opener as he read Josko Gvardiol’s misplaced header over his own keeper and tapped home.
But the second was all about the brilliance of United. Marcus Rashford’s pass to switch the play to Garnacho was superb. He then calmly cut inside before sliding it to Fernandes. Then the magic happened.
Fernandes had caught Kobbie Mainoo out of the corner of his eye and played an instinctive first-time pass.
Mainoo did the rest. It was not an easy finish but it was all about the set up.
United can be buoyed by two teenagers scoring for the first time in an FA Cup Final. The goalscorers and Hojlund means there is a foundation of youth for whoever is the United boss next season.
But they simply must build a team around Fernandes. And make it one good enough for him to win consistently.
He continued, tirelessly, to point and guide those around him. City scored through Jeremy Doku, United started to panic.
He was shouting at those around him to calm down. They were not heeding his guidance. The introduction of Hojlund saw him move out to the left.
For a moment he lost his own cool. Taking a shot from distance with Stefan Ortega off his line.
It gave City the ball back when United needed to hold it.
Give him that moment of madness. For the rest of it he was simply superb.
He led the celebrations like he led his team throughout.
SAUDI ARABIAN clubs met with agency bosses who represent a number of high-profile players this week.
The Saudi Pro League’s Al Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, among others met with Roc Nation Sports, who have Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta currently on their books. De Bruyne (left) has no interest in a move to Saudi and would prefer a switch to the MLS when he calls time on his Premier League stint.
Additionally, MLS outfit San Diego FC have already held private, preliminary discussions with the six-time Premier League winner’s entourage to register their interest.