FA Cup last: Man Utd out to guard legacy of 1999 by ending champions City’s treble dream

For Liverpool, it’s the six Champions Leagues and Istanbul. For Arsenal, it’s the Invincibles. For Manchester United, it’s the treble and that night time in Barcelona.

Every membership has a legacy that they cherish.

Now, United’s greatest-ever achievement is at risk of being replicated by their noisy neighbours, Manchester City.

Just two video games stand between them and their very own treble.

Those miraculous 10 days in May 1999 which noticed Sir Alex Ferguson’s aspect win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in probably the most dramatic style might quickly be about to lose some mystique.

It’s not fairly the identical if another person has completed it. Especially when you think about City received the league this season with 20 extra factors than United’s group from 1999.

But Erik ten Hag’s aspect have an opportunity to guard that legacy by stopping City in Saturday’s FA Cup last, the primary time the show-piece occasion has ever been contested by the 2 Manchester golf equipment.

Rail strikes to impact FA Cup final – here’s what you need to know

Ten Hag, although, desires his gamers to stay centered on the opportunity of claiming their second trophy of the season, somewhat than stopping City matching the distinctive feat.

“We want to win a cup,” stated Ten Hag, whose first piece of silverware at United was the League Cup in February. “It is not about stopping them. It is about that we win a cup. We have a great opportunity.”

United completed the season 14 factors adrift of champions City, however are exhibiting massive indicators of enchancment beneath the Dutchman, who has guided them to a third-placed end in his first marketing campaign.

Guardiola, who briefly labored with Ten Hag at Bayern Munich, has been impressed by the United supervisor.

“Always I identify a manger by how the team improves,” stated Guardiola.

“Just look at the team when he arrived and now. So when you see the team get better and better and better – and it is not easy in the first season in the Premier League – I identify a really good manager.

“He is a man who represents our occupation in one of the simplest ways on the pitch and off the pitch. I can’t say we’re pals, as a result of we aren’t in contact a lot, we had a brief expertise in Munich.

“I think Man United has an exceptional manager for many years.”

Read extra:
Manchester City crowned Premier League champions
How Manchester City became one of football’s greatest teams

Ten Hag, not like Guardiola, is barely originally of his journey in Manchester. The hole in high quality has definitely closed this season, however there may be nonetheless some option to go for United to catch up.

This was completely illustrated in every supervisor’s pre-match press conferences. Guardiola was requested if this may be Bernardo Silva’s last sport at City, whereas Ten Hag confronted comparable questions on Wout Weghorst.

That is a few gulf in school.

Ten Hag is aware of this, however is adamant his thoughts is solely on United somewhat than conserving a detailed eye on City.

“We want to restore Man United, but we have a way to go,” he stated. “I think City do a very good job, play very good football, so they deserve [their success].

“You must see the place you’re as a membership, and it’s important to make progress. I feel over the season we made superb progress, we’re in an excellent course.”

Speaking of his personal private expertise at Old Trafford since his transfer final summer season, he added: “It was a great journey this season. You always enjoy it more when you see the progress of a team – if you see the team and individuals developing and if you work on togetherness.

“I can affirm that each one three issues: group, people and the best way we work collectively on this membership is excellent. So for me, to this point it has been an important season.”