A Manchester derby in an FA Cup final saw Manchester City march towards immortality, with a Gundogan brace of immense technical quality earning City victory at Wembley
Ilkay Gundogan. Perhaps one of the most underrated midfielders in Premier League history and undoubtedly a City legend. A masterful volley within 13 seconds gave Pep Guardiola's team the fastest lead in FA Cup final history, before a letter-of-the-law handball from Jack Grealish saw Bruno Fernandes equalize from the spot.
In a game where neither side displayed their supreme quality, it was once again, like his brace on the final day of last season, the German maestro's latest illustration of his vital importance to this City team volleying a Kevin De Bruyne free kick past an outstretched De Gea.
City looked rattled, perhaps lacking domination on the night, but pushed United back, reasserting their control and playing the game out. Erik Ten Hag will be disappointed, but this campaign has been nothing short of progress for the Red Devils, yet their inability to hamper City emulating the great Manchester United treble of 1999 is a stinging disappointment. Sir Alex Ferguson's team was resilient and fantastic, yet this iteration of Pep Guardiola's genius seems irresistible.
City and Pep Guardiola are on the verge and Istanbul awaits...
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