1) Ten Hag hopes to stop City’s treble tilt
For many Wembley minutes and until Solly March’s tears, the credibility of Erik ten Hag’s regime was on a knife-edge. In recent weeks, a previously wide acceptance that Manchester United had finally found the right manager has loosened. Both Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho delivered fleeting spells of success. Both won trophies, too. Even Ole Gunnar Solskjær brought the smiles back for a while. Heavy defeats by Liverpool and Sevilla had hastened dark thoughts of a false dawn but now Ten Hag has the chance to augment United’s football heritage. By 3 June and the FA Cup final, Manchester City could be set fair for a treble to equal United’s in 1999, the club’s greatest ever achievement. To deny City and pull off such a heist, United will need far greater attacking potency than against Brighton, though the grit shown by lesser-starred names like Victor Lindelöf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Diogo Dalot and even Antony will also be welcome. John Brewin
