LUCKY NR. 13! Manchester United win the FA Cup to end weak season

• Manchester United sealed their spot in the Europa League, after failing to qualify through the Premier League.
• It was Raphaël Varane’s (31 years old) last game for United.

Over the past weekend, the FA Cup final was disputed at Wembley Stadium in London between Manchester City and Manchester United.

It was the first time since 1885 when the same two teams were in the final two consecutive years. The result, however, was opposite from last year, as against all odds, United managed to win this season with the score of 2-1, which means they have now won 13 total titles in their history.

This victory also secured them a spot in next year’s Europa League, after finishing 8th in the current Premier League season, one of the weakest results in recent years.

Kobbie Mainoo (19 years old) was named Player of the Match, after scoring United’s second goal.

It was a particularly memorable season for the young player, as he established himself as a regular starter for his team, having 5 goals and 1 assist in 32 matches. He was also named in the England provisional squad for the upcoming Euros for the first time in his career.

Alejandro Garnacho (19 years old), United’s other star-youngster scored the first goal and contributed a lot to the second one.

He managed to score 10 times this season, including that beautiful bicycle kick against Everton, a strong possible contender for the Puskas Award.

Varane Leaves

After 3 seasons in Manchester, Raphaël Varane officially announced through a social media post that he will leave the club at the end of this season.

The French center-back got emotional while thanking the club and the fans for the wonderful welcome he received, which helped him to adjust quickly to the new environment. During his stay with the Red Devils, he won the Carabao Cup last year and now the FA Cup, during his last game at this club.

His future has not yet been decided, but reports indicate he will be looking for another club, as retirement is not currently in his plans.

“I fell in love with the club, with the fans. You have to play for Man United to understand what that represents.” Raphaël Varane

ten Hag’s Uncertain Future

The manager of Manchester United, Erik ten Hag (54 years old) has been surrounder by controversy ever since he arrived 2 seasons ago.

Some of his transfers, like buying his former Ajax player, Antony (24 years old) for a whopping €95M, and some of the results of the team, like finishing last in this season’s Champions League group, made the Dutch manager’s stay at United filled with concerns and questions from the fans and club board.

Even though he managed to win 2 trophies in 2 seasons, which are the first ones since José Mourinho’s (61 years old) 2016-2017 season at the club, everybody demands more from the manager and the squad. 

Before the final, sources like The Guardian, shared a piece of information that was allegedly leaked from United’s board, which stated that ten Hag will be fired immediately after the final, regardless of the result. However, two days later no decision was officially communicated by the club.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that there is currently a 50/50 chance of ten Hag staying for the next season, as the board has not yet fully discussed the manager’s future. He was asked by the press after the final whether he heard anything about these rumors, but ten Hag denied them.

“If they don’t want me anymore, I go somewhere else and win trophies.” Erik ten Hag