Manchester United left Wembley with the FA Cup trophy in hand after beating Manchester City 2-1.
Heading into the game, Pep Guardiola’s side were the ones on cloud nine because they had just become champions of England again.
Despite being pushed to the wire by Arsenal, Manchester City won a fourth consecutive Premier League title and were craving to win the double.
Yes, Manchester United had ended the season strongly, including winning their final game at Brighton 2-0, but they finished eighth in the Premier League table.
That was their lowest-ever finish of the Premier League era and there were even suggestions the under-fire Erik ten Hag would get sacked, regardless of the result in the final.
Despite that, Manchester United fans were positive and they were backing their team to lift the trophy, especially given that some big-name players were back from the treatment room, including Lisandro Martinez.
Pre-match, predictions were flying in left, right and centre. Some thought an upset could be on the cards here, others thought it would be a Man City win, but it would be tight.
Paul Merson, on the other hand, was pretty clear about what was going to happen and he shared it on Twitter.
The former Arsenal midfielder wrote confidently ‘can’t see anything but a Man City win’ and proceeded to back them to win 3-0. Those in red were 2-0 up before the break!
As you can imagine, fans in the comments section let him know about it because he got it horribly wrong, with captain Bruno Fernandes lifting the FA Cup trophy aloft after the full-time whistle.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho help Manchester United win FA Cup
“FA cup final day!! Can’t see anything but a Man City win.. 3-0,” wrote Merson pre-match.
Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager
Now the questions will be asked, is this going to be enough to save ten Hag’s job? You sense, from the Manchester United fans, they want to keep the Dutchman on board.
Yes, many acknowledge that the Premier League form wasn’t good enough. But many feel they will take positive strides again next season.
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Not only that, Man United will be in the Europa League. You feel, as of this moment in time, it’s a more realistic competition to win for the club than the Champions League.
One thing that also can’t be argued about is how ten Hag has helped the club’s younger players, including the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, who scored the winner in his first-ever Wembley final.
The post Paul Merson gets FA Cup final prediction between Manchester United & Manchester City horribly wrong appeared first on HITC.
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