United boss Ten Hag praises his players after Cup final defeat
‘We are BROKEN… but it will make us better’: Erik ten Hag praises his stars for ‘resiliance, character and personality’ in FA Cup final defeat to Man City – but beaten Man United boss laments ‘soft and avoidable’ goals
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag insisted his players would come back stronger from the FA Cup final defeat by Man City.
City captain Gundogan entered the record books by scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup final history as he crashed home a stunning volley 12 seconds after kick off.
United, seeking to win both domestic cups in the same season for the first time and at the same time wreck City’s hopes of emulating their own historic 1999 treble, levelled against the run of play with a 33rd-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty.
But Gundogan restored City’s lead with another volley seven minutes after the interval and Pep Guardiola’s side resisted some late pressure to win the trophy for a seventh time.
Afterwards Ten Hag told the BBC: ‘We are broken, disappointed of course, but I said I am proud of my team. We did very well, we conceded two soft goals but we were in the game. There was a great spirit and very good organisation.
‘They were tough goals, they were so soft and avoidable. When you play aaginst City and you don’t concede almost nothing from open play it is a big credit for the team but if you concede goals like this it is disappointing.
‘This team showed resiliance, character and personality. We know we have a way to go but this will make us better. It was a test for us, we didn’t succeed but we can take a lot of positives into next season.’
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes added: ‘Everyone is down and it’s really difficult. We wanted to end the season in a different way but it wasn’t possible.
‘We’ve made big steps for next season, it wasn’t a successful season overall but it was a good one. We have come back next season and try to win bigger trophies.’
Fernandes scored from the spot as United recovered from early setback but Gundogan volleyed home his second in the 52nd minute.
He added: ‘We came back into the game, we started badly but came back into it and had good spells on the ball in the first half.
‘After we scored, we had some good counters but didn’t score. We conceded early in the second half and then still had other chances but we didn’t and City deserved the win.
‘We were too soft and gave up too much space for the first goal but it’s an amazing strike. If players are tighter then maybe they can stop it but it’s an amazing strike.
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