Manchester City’s FA Cup shocker against Manchester United is still stirring up questions months later, as Pep Guardiola finally reveals his squad may have been “a little bit hungover” that fateful day in May.
The Cityzens, riding high as firm favorites, were primed to retain their double when they faced off with United at Wembley. Instead, they were blindsided by Erik ten Hag’s underdog squad. United’s young stars, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, struck early, giving the Red Devils a 2-1 lead that withstood relentless pressure from City in the second half.
Just six days before the FA Cup final, Guardiola’s team had made Premier League history, celebrating their fourth consecutive title. However, those celebrations may have taken a toll. Although Guardiola avoided excuses immediately after the match, he recently admitted: “Of course, with the FA Cup final, we were a little bit hungover, but it is good news.” His recent reflections come after City’s loss to Tottenham, their first defeat of the season, signaling to Guardiola how unusual a loss has become for his powerhouse team.
Reflecting on that FA Cup match, Guardiola took responsibility for the missteps, saying, “It’s my mistake—the game plan was not good…Tactically, it was not good. I had the feeling it was not good today. You plan a game for different positions, but didn’t work—it’s as simple as that.”
Despite the tactical issues, Guardiola praised his team’s resilience: “In football and in life, you win and you lose. We lost in the right way, especially in the second half, as they didn’t give up and kept going.”
The Red Devils’ unexpected victory gave Ten Hag a brief reprieve amid a tough season. United’s eighth-place finish and shaky performances had put the Dutchman’s job in jeopardy, and while many credited the FA Cup win with delaying his dismissal, the reprieve was short-lived. Despite pointing to his trophy successes, Ten Hag’s early struggles this season led to his exit. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe in attendance, United’s underdog victory against City remains one of Ten Hag’s defining moments, but the club has since turned the page.
