Man City vs Manchester United LIVE: FA Cup final result and final score after Ilkay Gundogan double

Erik ten Hag on what makes Pep Guardiola special: “Oh, I don’t tell! It’s obvious we have seen what he is doing, he’s doing a brilliant job.

“What he can do is he can construct not only winning teams but also winning in a very attractive way, so that is why I think we all admire him so.”

Manchester United were pointless and headed for humiliation. As Brentford scored four goals in a half – and the first half at that – and Erik ten Hag’s reign began amid farce, a footballer who had starred in four Champions League final victories reached for his phone. United’s most high-profile transfer target texted his agent.

But not to back out of a deal. The message, instead, was to tell United he would “fix” it.

It was a sign of Casemiro’s confidence. If that self-assurance is a product of a career of rare success – the Carabao Cup took his trophy count to 21 – many another would have been deterred by the impression United were in crisis. They might have stayed at Real Madrid. Not him.

“No second thoughts at all,” he recalled. “But to be honest I did say that. I was speaking to my agent, and with John [Murtough, United’s director of football] too about this afterwards. I’d said this after it had happened because I was also very excited and I was aware that my period at Real Madrid had come to an end and I was really upbeat about coming here and taking on this new project, this new challenge. It was clear in my mind.”

Interview by Richard Jolly

Ilkay Gundogan believes that the responsibility of leadership was given to him due to the way he treats his teammates in the dressing room and how he goes about the business of being a professional footballer.

The German international says it’s an honour to lead a talented group of players and one he takes seriously.

“I feel like being elected as a captain at the beginning of the season was an appreciation for the way I am, the way I was behaving over the last few years and that is why I don’t feel like there is anything I need to do differently,” he explained,

“I just try to stay who I am, be the same guy and to try to treat everyone as fair as possible and try to be there if someone has an issue, whether that’s a player or a member of staff.

“I take the responsibility very seriously and I try to live up to it every single day.”

Pep Guardiola believes stopping Manchester City winning the treble could give Manchester United extra motivation in the FA Cup final.

The two neighbouring rivals clash in the Wembley showpiece for the first time on Saturday with more than a trophy and local bragging rights at stake.

For Premier League winners City victory could be the second leg of a potentially glorious treble with the final of the Champions League to come next week.

United on the other hand – as the only side to have won all three of those competitions in the same season, back in 1999 – will be anxious to stop them and protect their place in history.

Pep Guardiola on whether Manchester United will be more motivated because of the chance to deny City the treble.

“I could understand that, it belongs to them,” said Guardiola. “That’s normal. Sport is like that. It’s completely understandable.

“But it’s a football game. Who will be better will win.

“We know what we are playing for. I don’t have to tell them. It is the final of the FA Cup against United, the chance to add another trophy. This is the mentality we have right now.”

Pep Guardiola has promised Manchester City fans his side will “give everything” to beat rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

He said: “I will ask to our fans, behave properly first and, secondly, go there to enjoy an incredible event, knowing the players will give everything to beat Man United.

“The consequences and the result, who knows it? I don’t know it. (United manager) Erik ten Hag doesn’t know it.

“It’s a football game. Enjoy the moment and enjoy next week to prepare for the (Champions League) final, to dream of seeing the team. It’s the best way.

“You have to understand anything can happen but we are going to do everything to beat United.

“I understand completely for City fans, who were in the shadow for decades behind United.

“We’ll try to do the best game as possible. So I would say have fun, enjoy the right portion of beers before the game and, that’s all. Enjoy it.”

Captaining his team in the FA Cup final at Wembley is a ‘big honour’ for Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan.

“It is a privilege,” he said, “It is a privilege to be the captain of this group and this amazing club. It is a big honour.

“It is another final and finals especially are played on a different level. Obviously, I want to support my teammates as good as possible as the captain and hopefully we can make it.

“It is very important. Obviously, there is a big tradition for this competition. The fact that we haven’t won it since 2019 just raises more hunger to do it again, especially in a final that is a derby against our big rivals.

“We are really looking forward to it.”

For many another, the Premier League title would have been enough, especially if it gave him a status as a pivotal part of only the sixth team to win the English top flight in three successive seasons. Not Ruben Dias, however. He said: “We’ve not done anything yet.”

It was an indication that Dias is not focusing on the three-peat, but thinking of a different kind of hat-trick: the treble. One down, two to go: Manchester City have clinched the Premier League. Now for finals on successive weekends: Manchester United in the FA Cup, Internazionale in the Champions League.

“We definitely know what we’re going for and we really want it,” said the centre-back. “But we know if we start to think too far ahead then it will kill us. Our heads are on training. Little by little we think. Just think and do it.”

For much of footballing history, the double, the combination of the FA Cup and the English title, felt an impossible dream, something no club did between 1897 and 1961. Now it may be a stepping stone. “It’s a great achievement,” Dias said. “We’ll celebrate it if we do and then we’ll think about what is coming because we are still not finished.”

Interview by Richard Jolly

Manchester United have already played twice at Wembley this season and Erik ten Hag believes that those previous outings will leave his team in good stead.

“That will always be helpful, that you go back anywhere where you feel at home, like we feel at home at Old Trafford,” he said, “And so that is good. We know that. We take that in our luggage [to London] and it will improve our belief. “The FA Cup has a big reputation, not only I think in England, but I think in all the world and, over many years, that reputation is historical.

“So I watched as a child, we watched the FA Cup, we stayed home for it. We stopped playing football to watch the FA Cup final, so it means a lot. And I am really looking forward [to it].”

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says the chance to stop Manchester City’s treble charge provides no extra motivation heading into the FA Cup final.

The eyes of the footballing world will be on Wembley on Saturday afternoon for the first-ever all-Manchester cup final.

United head to the capital looking to end a promising first season under Ten Hag by winning both domestic cups in the same campaign for the first time.

Neighbours City already have the Premier League title under their belt and are looking to lift the FA Cup a week before heading to Istanbul to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Lifting both of those trophies would see Pep Guardiola’s men join Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1999 treble heroes as the only English sides to achieve the feat - something United supporters are desperate to stop.

“I know what is the thinking from the fans,” Ten Hag said. “But what we want is to restore Manchester United by winning trophies.

“So, on Saturday we have an opportunity to win a trophy and we don’t want to be distracted by anything.

“If it’s important for the fans then it’s important for us, so we will give everything to win the cup.”