I said before the game that this was a big chance for Manchester United to give their fans something back at the end of a poor season, and they certainly did that.
They were the better team, they thoroughly deserved to win, and the result was no fluke. Ten Hag played a blinder with his gameplan and his players executed it perfectly.
United were right at it from the off. They did not allow City to play their normal game, gave nothing away, closed them down and forced them into errors. Then, when they could, they hit them on the break and the way they switched play when they did that, particularly in the first half, was superb.
We do not know if Ten Hag will still be Manchester United manager next season but, whoever is in charge, the important thing is the players need to produce that kind of effort and unity week in, week out. They cannot just save it for the biggest occasions.
You could feel Ten Hag’s frustration about repeatedly being asked about his future and whether this would be his final game.
It was a constant in the build-up, particularly this week and even just before kick-off.
On the morning of the biggest game of the season for him and his team, he was being constantly asked about his future, or rather the speculation that his future had been decided and someone else was getting his job.
That might well turn out to be the case. But, as I said before the final, from a human point of view, it is disrespectful of the club’s owners to treat someone this way and who, at the very least, is giving his all in his job and now won two trophies in two seasons.
It is not as if he has not given everything to try to turn things around.
If United were going to keep Ten Hag on, I am sure they would have come out and said that at some stage before the FA Cup final. Instead, the silence has been deafening, and I think that is pretty telling.
At the same time, I do understand why Ten Hag’s future is in doubt because of how bad large parts of this season have been.
Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and it is not acceptable for them to finish eighth, or go out of the Champions League in the group stage the way they did.
When you look at their defensive statistics and the number of shots they have faced per game – at an average of 17.6, only Sheffield United have faced more from the 96 clubs in the top divisions of Europe’s top five leagues – then you can see they are miles away from where they need to be on a consistent basis.
This performance gives their fans something to celebrate, at least, but we don’t know what is going to happen next with United, and whether this is the start of something bigger or just the end for Ten Hag. If it is the latter, then what a way to sign off. Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton and former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin have been speculating on the future of Erik ten Hag after the under-pressure manager secured his second trophy in two seasons at Old Trafford.
Sutton said: “Lets get this right – is there a more pressurised job in world football than Manchester United manager? Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, it has been a bit of a nightmare because of the expectation.
“[This] was massive for Ten Hag. What will be interesting is what actually happens next.
“We keep seeing pictures of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, maybe they’re thinking after all the stories that have come out, ‘blimey, maybe we should do a massive U-turn’.
“This can’t be a short-term approach if they have made the decision and viewed the season as a whole then they will have to stick with that but Ten Hag is a thoroughly decent bloke.
“If he is going, what a way to bow out. He has made his point.”
Dublin added: “There were some confused thoughts and people in the stands because this was the performance and the level that Man Utd should be at.
“How Ten Hag has got that from his players I don’t know but they came out and were absolutely outstanding. To a man everyone in a red shirt, including the manager, were brilliant.
“I’m so happy for him, I’ve been lucky enough to interview him a few times and he is as straight as they come and tells you what he thinks.”
The editor of Manchester United site United We Stand Andy Mitten says the FA Cup win “was totally unexpected” and that “there are still a lot of issues” for the club to fix.
Following Saturday’s surprise victory over defending champions and rivals Manchester City, there has been a shift in mood regarding Erik ten Hag’s position at the club and of what the team could be capable.
However, Mitten believes there is still a lot of work to do this summer to improve “significantly” before the start of the new campaign.
“It was totally unexpected so it was a wonderful day in Manchester United’s modern history,” said Mitten on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. “It also means we get European football after a very disappointing league season.
“Yes, we have had injuries but even when we have had our strongest team out we have not looked convincing.
“It has been a really frustrating season but it wa good to end on a high at Wembley.
“The game plan really worked but even with 10 minutes to go the fans were so nervous. A lot of our players did well, in particular our defence that has been decimated by injuries.
“The outlook is a lot more positive as that win will give the players and club confidence.”
United finished eighth in the Premier League, out of the European spots, and were bottom of their group in the Champions League.
“There are still a lot of issues,” Mitten said. “We will not be winning the league next season, and I do not think the fans expect too, but it does need to be significantly better than this season.
“It was a mess when he came in but every manager says that. I still think he has a lot of things to sort out and some of the players are still undecided about him.
“He wants to stay but we do not know if he will. A little bit more charisma from him would be good!”
Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton says the identity Manchester United have lacked for much of this season was visible in Saturday’s stunning FA Cup win over local rivals Manchester City.
“This was a motivated Man United team,” Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “I’m scratching my head – where have these performances been this season?
“There is still speculation over Erik ten Hag’s future and the reason is they have lacked identity. But he played this formation against Brighton and went with it again with Bruno Fernandes as the false nine.
“There was a really nice balance to the team.
“Ten Hag spoke before the game about being brave, they were brave and they deserved the win.”
United’s opener through Alejandro Garnacho may have had a touch of fortune about it after a mix-up in the City defence but Kobbie Mainoo’s sharp finish to double their lead was the culmination of a brilliant counter-attack.
“The brilliant second goal – what a goal,” Sutton added.
“One of the best FA Cup final goals I’ve ever seen. I think I’ve accused Fernandes in the past of being selfish – but there, he certainly wasn’t. It was just such a clever pass with the way he disguised it. The weight on it was lovely and Mainoo just had to stay composed.”
