Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said he is “very proud” after their shock 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final 2024 – but did not name under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag in his congratulatory message.
Reports on the eve of the final said the match would be Ten Hag’s final game in charge of his patchy two-season reign at Old Trafford, and the Dutchman’s players produced arguably their finest performance of his tenure to beat the Premier League champions at Wembley Stadium.
“It is a glorious feeling to win the FA Cup final at Wembley,” Ratcliffe said in a statement shortly after the final whistle on Saturday.
“Manchester United clearly were not the favourites to win today but they played with total commitment and skill and overcame one of the great teams in football. We are all very proud of the players and the staff who work tirelessly to support them.”
WHEN THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE BLEW 🥳@TeamViewer ↔️ #FindYourBetter pic.twitter.com/EfpNC1jSsG
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 25, 2024
The new boss of United’s football operations watched on with legendary Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson as Ten Hag won the first trophy of the businessman’s time at the club, avenging United’s 2-1 defeat in the same fixture in last season’s final.
Ratcliffe has said he wants to change the culture of a club which has not won the Premier League since Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012/13 campaign.
United had a poor season by the standards of the 20-time English champions, finishing eighth – 31 points behind champions City – and exiting the Uefa Champions League at the bottom of their group.
Ten Hag also won the Carabao Cup and guided United to a third-placed finish in 2022/23 but conceded that he did not know whether he would retain his position after lifting his latest silverware.
Your 2023/24 FA Cup winners…
🏆 MANCHESTER UNITED! 🏆#MUFC || #FACupFinal pic.twitter.com/UURrGlxqiz
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 25, 2024
The 54-year-old said United’s problems had been largely a result of their injury issues after ensuring they will play in next season’s Europa League.
Ten Hag faced the most separate injuries (45), second-most injured players (21) and joint-most maximum players out in a single game week (11), according to figures from website Premier Injuries.
“There is a lot of work to do but we have value in the squad and high potential,” said Ten Hag. “The team is progressing and we are winning trophies.
“Two trophies in two years is not bad. Three finals in two years is not bad. If they don’t want me, then I will go somewhere else to win trophies – because that is what I do.”
