‘Broken but proud’ – Erik ten Hag draws three positives from FA Cup final defeat

Erik ten Hag has explained three positives that he has taken from the Manchester United FA Cup final defeat against Manchester City.

Manchester United fell to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup final after an Ilkay Gundogan double bettered Bruno Fernandes‘ penalty.

In a season that saw Manchester United win their first domestic trophy in six years with a Carabao Cup trophy victory over Newcastle United earlier this year in February, the FA Cup represented the chance for Erik ten Hag to secure his trophy of the season – but it was not to be.

With Manchester City emerging victorious, they secured the second of the three trophies available to them in order to take a second step in securing a historic treble.

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Speaking after the game, Ten Hag explained that although they are disappointed, there are three things the side showed that he is proud of.

“We are broken. Disappointed of course. It is tough. I am proud of my team. We did very well. We conceded two soft and unnecessary goals. But we kept ourselves in the game.

“There was a great spirit and very good organisation. We were really hard to beat and I think in the end we could have got an equaliser. 

“This team showed resilience and character and personality. We know that we have a way to go but this will make us better. It was a test for us and we did not concede but I think that we can take a lot of positives with us to next season.”

Further to this, Ten Hag also explained that he is proud of how his team has progressed this season.

“It is not about gap in summer and getting players in. We work all season and day by day to develop the team and progress the team and I am very proud of where we came from in the start of the season.

“Remember also the Etihad and now we showed today that at home we won it was not a coincidence and maybe on another day we could have won this game.”

With the transfer window opening next week, United are looking to secure a first-XI striker, midfielder, goalkeeper, and central defender.