The key to FA Cup glory and winning the biggest game of the Manchester United season, Erik ten Hag had decided, lay in the hearts and minds of his players.
Ten Hag does not always come across as the warmest person. If United’s thrilling 2-1 win over Manchester City at Wembley does indeed prove to be his last game in charge, a lack of empathy with his team will be one of the factors preventing him from succeeding to get the best out of them. on regular basis.
As United celebrated their triumph on Saturday evening in a suite at the Marriott Hotel in Mayfair, Ten Hag was handed the microphone and delivered a three-minute speech that was more of a technical assessment of how United had avenged their cup final defeat to City a year ago . earlier.
When the Dutchman finished, he handed the microphone to captain Bruno Fernandes, who amused the crowd by starting his 30-second speech by saying: “That was more like a press conference!”
Ten Hag is a football obsessed, a tactician who reminded us of his abilities on one memorable day by outwitting Pep Guardiola at the end of a season in which United too often seemed without a plan. There was a strategy to beat City and it was executed to perfection.
Manchester United claimed the FA Cup title with an impressive 2-1 win over rivals Man City
The players started their celebrations on the Wembley pitch before partying late into the night
United headed straight to the Marriott Hotel in Mayfair on Saturday evening to continue the celebrations
But beyond that, the manager and his staff saw the need to motivate and bring the players together in a way they had never experienced before in this most difficult season.
When the team arrived at the team hotel in London on Friday, a letter written by their partners or loved ones was on the bed. Each player then received a video on their phone via WhatsApp with more goodwill messages from family and friends.
In the hour before the match, the team gathered in front of a large screen in the Wembley away dressing room and were shown a video with a different personal message for each player.
“We have done special things,” Ten Hag later revealed. ‘We had some motivational videos. They were incredible, they were so emotional. The emotions entered their minds and the minds drove the bodies.
‘It helped that we were a team from the first whistle of the final. They’re great guys. They’ve had so many setbacks over the course of the season, so many punches on the chin. Every time we fought back and in the end we got a trophy.’
United’s players spoke of a palpable change in mood in the dressing room compared to other games.
Problems had been simmering within the team all season, but Ten Hag managed to bring them together when it mattered most for what for some of them – and possibly for the manager himself – the last game before the club will be.
Centre-back Raphael Varane, who has already confirmed he is leaving, said: “We all agreed it was different. The atmosphere within the team was special. Everyone believed, everyone was ready to fight for the team.
Harry Maguire (right) posted many photos on his social media throughout the evening
Alejandro Garnacho, who scored the opener, posed with the trophy next to partner Eva Garcia
‘The plan was perfect. Together with the manager we made it. Everyone was ready to get the job done. That is united. That is love.’
Defender Diogo Dalot added: “More than the game plan, it was the mentality. In the locker room you could smell that we were connected. We were ready like I’ve never seen this season or pretty much last year.”
United have missed Lisandro Martinez dearly, both for his leadership and influence in the dressing room and on the pitch. He was a titan at Wembley in only his 11th start of the season.
At the final whistle he picked Ten Hag up and was waiting in the dressing room before spraying him with champagne when the manager arrived to gather his players for a team photo.
“Before the game you looked everyone in the eye and everyone was here,” Martinez said. ‘We felt completely connected to the positive energy. This is what Manchester United means. We must die for this badge, just like today.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe entered the dressing room after the match to congratulate the manager and players, although a similar social media post did not mention Ten Hag by name.
None of the owners – Joel and Avi Glazer were also at Wembley – attended the post-match party, with new technical director Jason Wilcox said to be the senior figure there.
The players left Wembley without speaking to the media, probably to avoid difficult questions about Ten Hag’s future.
Scott McTominay’s WAG, Cam Reading, shared a shot from the afterparty with the midfielder
Antony (fourth from left) posed with his family after a difficult campaign
“We know the manager is under so much scrutiny, he deserves this,” Fernandes told the BBC after the match. As the team bus drove through London, coach Darren Fletcher waved the cup from the front as he led the players in a rendition of Sweet Caroline.
Rasmus Hojlund drank champagne from a bottle and was barely seen for the rest of the night without one in his hand.
Hojlund, Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans were reportedly in particularly good spirits as the festivities continued until about 2am. The Dane was filmed dancing to Abba’s Gimme! Give me! Give me! but could not convince goalkeeper Andre Onana to participate.
Hojlund and Onana were among the United players who appeared in their cup final suit, designed by Paul Smith.
Others, such as Alejandro Garnacho, Victor Lindelof and Amad Diallo, were still wearing their match shirts, while Kobbie Mainoo wore his United bucket hat.
The club provided a buffet of meat, pasta and salad and hired a DJ to entertain the players with a mix of reggaeton, pop and rock music. Lindelof’s wife Maja posted a video on social media of the couple singing along to We Are The Champions by Queen.
Garnacho invited American YouTuber IShowSpeed who attempted to re-enact the United striker’s spectacular overhead kick against Everton in November that won goal of the season, using the carpet for a soft landing.
The fun did not extend to midfielder Casemiro, who cut a dejected figure after missing his final game as a United player through injury.
YouTuber IShowSpeed appeared at the afterparty, posing with United’s stars
IShowSpeed also posed with the pressured Ten Hag, who appeared to look in good spirits
However, Casemiro appeared to be absent from the festivities as he left for vacation
Casemiro was the first to leave the party and head straight to the airport, where wife Anna Mariana shared a photo of the Brazilian on a private plane with his two children as the family jetted off on holiday.
Yesterday afternoon Dalot, Varane, Antony and Mason Mount were on their way to Monaco for the Grand Prix.
It remains to be seen how many players from United’s FA Cup-winning side will be back next season.
Ten Hag’s job is at stake and this could also be his farewell. At least they left on a high.