EnglishAccording to coach Erik ten Hag, regardless of the outcome, today's FA Cup match does not show the difference in level between Man Utd and Man City.
“This is a good test. I think Man City did a great job, played beautiful football and they deserve to be praised. But I'm not too concerned about them. I just look at my team, to see where I am and how I'm improving - which I think Man Utd did last season," Ten Hag said 2/6 at a press conference before the FA Cup final.
Man Utd last season got off to a bad start, but gradually achieved their goals - finishing in the top 3 to return to the Champions League, quenching their thirst for titles with the League Cup in February. Had a good season, and with the FA Cup final we have the opportunity to take it up a notch,” he added.
Ten Hag applauds Man Utd fans at Old Trafford after beating Fulham 2-1 in the closing game of the Premier League on May 28. Image: AFP
According to Ten Hag, based on the results of the FA Cup match, he and the leadership team will analyze and perform a more comprehensive assessment to come to a conclusion, as well as an appropriate plan for the summer transfer window of 2023. But the coach The Netherlands emphasized that the whole team will "start from scratch" before the 2023-2024 season.
Man Utd is the only English club to have won three major titles at the same time, namely the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the 1998-1999 season. After nearly 25 years, Man City is really facing the opportunity to recreate the feat of rival Manchester City. After winning the Premier League for the third time in a row, they will meet Man Utd in the FA Cup final at Wembley today and Inter in the Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10.
However, Ten Hag emphasized not to mind the opponent's treble chance. "We want to win to win the Cup, not to stop Man City," he said. “The important thing is that Man Utd win and win more titles. And we have a great opportunity.”
When asked if today's final at Wembley was the biggest match of his career, Ten Hag replied: "It's certainly an important game, but I don't want to judge which is the biggest one. We have a great opportunity against a great opponent, and we are all up for the challenge.”
The 53-year-old coach said Antony "has a very small chance to play" because of an injury from the 4-1 victory over Chelsea in the Premier League on May 25, and Anthony Martial is definitely absent with a hamstring injury. Ten Hag also declined to comment on the future of Wout Weghorst - the countryman's loan deal expires at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Casemiro believes that Man Utd is on the right track and has captured the mentality and style of play required by Ten Hag. The Brazilian midfielder said tearing at Man City in the FA Cup final would be a "special moment", but stressed that a collective victory was a more important goal.
Hong Duy
