Football

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a pivotal moment in his tenure as he aims to salvage his job by thwarting Manchester City's historic bid in the FA Cup final on Saturday. The Wembley showdown marks the second consecutive Manchester derby in the showpiece event, with City triumphing 2-1 last year en route to an unprecedented treble.Despite United's League Cup triumph earlier this season, their turbulent campaign has left Ten Hag's future in jeopardy. The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest final position since 1990, and failed to progress beyond the Champions League group stage. Ten Hag has attributed their struggles to injuries, but his reported clashes with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have raised concerns about squad harmony.United's path to the FA Cup final was far from convincing, as they squandered a three-goal lead and survived a penalty shootout against second-tier Coventry in the semi-final. The erratic nature of Ten Hag's team has fueled speculation about his potential replacement, with Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, and Kieran McKenna among those linked with the Old Trafford job.Ten Hag's hopes of remaining at United hinge on spoiling City's bid to become the first English club to win both the Premier League and FA Cup two years in a row. "I came here to win trophies," Ten Hag declared. "I'm just focusing on the job I have to do. That is first to win the game on Saturday and then keep going in the project."United, who have lost six of the past seven Manchester derbies, must lift the Cup for the first time in eight years to avoid their first season without European action since 2014/15. Goalkeeper Andre Onana, despite a challenging debut campaign, is determined to repay the fans' support with victory at Wembley.City's dominance in the Premier League has extended to six titles in seven years, solidifying their status as one of the greatest English teams of all time. Pep Guardiola's men pipped Arsenal by two points after winning their last nine league games, setting the stage for more history at Wembley.City captain Kyle Walker attributes their success to Guardiola's relentless drive and intensity. "He's addicted to winning. He is addicted and it rubs off on us," Walker said. Playmaker Bernardo Silva believes City thrive under pressure, stating, "Sometimes at the beginning of the season when we don't have that much pressure, the team relaxes when it shouldn't and at the end of the season we always compensate for it."

Manchester City's title hopes received a major boost as they came from behind to defeat arch-rivals Manchester United 3-1 in a thrilling Premier League derby at the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden's brace and Erling Haaland's stoppage-time strike sealed the victory, leaving City just one point behind league leaders Liverpool.United stunned the hosts with a stunning goal from Marcus Rashford in the eighth minute. However, City dominated possession and created numerous chances, with Foden and Rodri denied by excellent saves from Andre Onana.Haaland's incredible miss just before half-time, when he fired over with an open goal, seemed to give United hope. But Foden's equalizer in the 73rd minute, a blistering shot into the top corner, leveled the match.Ten minutes later, Foden struck again, this time with a composed finish after a slick one-two with Julian Alvarez. Haaland then atoned for his earlier miss with a clinical finish in stoppage time, rolling the ball into the net to seal the victory.United's defeat leaves them 11 points adrift of the top four, while City's triumph keeps them firmly in the title race. The result sets up a tantalizing clash between City and Liverpool next weekend, with the Premier League crown potentially on the line.

In the highly anticipated Manchester derby, Marcus Rashford emerged as the hero for Manchester United, scoring a stunning goal against Premier League champions Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola expecting a strong performance from his team, Rashford delivered, silencing the Etihad Stadium crowd with his brilliance.Rashford's goal came in the eighth minute of the match, assisted by Bruno Fernandes. The England international unleashed a powerful long-range shot that flew into the top corner, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic strikes. The goal gave United an early lead and sent shockwaves through the City defense.Rashford's strike was not only a moment of individual brilliance but also a testament to his growing stature as a world-class forward. With 30 career goals against the "big six" rivals in the Premier League, Rashford has joined the ranks of Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Eric Cantona.The goal also marked a significant milestone for Rashford, as he became the third player in United's history to score the most goals in the Manchester derby. Rooney holds the record with eight goals, while Cantona has seven.Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, Manchester United are hoping to end their losing streak against their bitter rivals at the Etihad. However, City have been dominant in recent derby clashes, scoring 10 goals in their last two home matches against United.Despite the challenge, Rashford's goal has given United fans hope that they can overcome their rivals and secure a crucial victory. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to prove their superiority in the Premier League.