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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jamie Jackson at Wembley

Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United: FA Cup final player ratings

Pep Guardiola talks to his team.
It was not a vintage City performance, but Rodri and Ilkay Gündogan kept things under control. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer

Manchester City

Stefan Ortega 7 As in previous rounds was chosen ahead of Ederson and passed as well as the Brazilian. Beaten by Fernandes’s spot-kick.

Kyle Walker 7 Barked at Dias to observe City’s high line in a show of leadership but a fluffed clearance allowed Rashford to pounce in what might have led to United’s second.

John Stones 7 The centre-back stationed himself alongside Rodri at the base of midfield and though he had close to zero influence from the zone kept on trying.

Rúben Dias 6 Received a Guardiola rollicking for punting a free-kick to precisely no one, United’s forays and press made this a busier than usual afternoon for the Portuguese.

Manuel Akanji 7 Powerhouse Swiss shrugged off Casemiro stamp and was solid and unflappable throughout in the latest unsung-hero performance of which he should be proud.

Rodri 7 Missed headed chance yet despite being harried at times by the Fred-Casemiro axis was the normal serene presence who weaves his side’s defence and attack together.

Bernardo Silva 5 Booked for a hack on Shaw the little winger was oddly muted and appeared irritated at being so. But in victory he will hardly care.

Kevin De Bruyne 7 A stinker of a first half was followed, after the break, by a menacing cross as he awoke. It was after the Belgian’s ball that Gündogan scored his second.

Ilkay Gündogan 10 A class above. Blistering right-footed 20-yard volley to give City the lead inside 13 seconds will never be forgotten by the German. And neither will his second – this, with his left.

Jack Grealish 6 Unfortunate for the handball that led to Fernandes’s penalty strike. He ensured Wan-Bissaka could not relax along City’s left flank.

Erling Haaland 5 Quiet throughout. Fluffed a chance by half-stepping on the ball. Cuffed Casemiro aside and punted a 25-yard effort that ballooned over. Maybe the Champions League final will be his moment.

A disconsolate David de Gea
A disconsolate David de Gea. Photograph: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

Manchester United

David de Gea 3 Very poor. Statue-like as Gündogan’s volley flew in to open the scoring. Unsighted (perhaps) for the second Gündogan volley.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6 Tussle with Grealish was a riveting sideshow. Unlucky to be booked for one challenge which the City midfielder appeared to make a meal of.

Raphaël Varane 6 Skewered an aerial left-foot shot awfully from a corner that had to hit the target, at least, and which could have put United 2-1 up.

Victor Lindelöf 6 After a hapless header went straight to Gündogan for the first goal, the Swede calmed and was arguably the best defender on either team.

Luke Shaw 6 Took 23 long minutes to join a United attack with the game compressed in midfield. Scythed down by Silva and was never in the match.

Casemiro 6 Key to lifting his teammates after conceding so early. Produced some deft touches and moments of vision though stamped on Akanji naughtily.

Fred 5 Ineffective. Beneficiary of Martial’s injury so, as in January win over City, operated more advanced than Casemiro when side attacked.

Bruno Fernandes 7 Nerveless to execute his trademark hop-skip-jump penalty. A battling captain’s display that ended in him agonisingly hitting the bar.

Christian Eriksen 4 Unable to assert any influence despite being deployed in his preferred No 10 berth. Replaced by Garnacho on 62 minutes.

Jadon Sancho 5 Muted. Showed he lacks blistering pace when refusing to launch a surge beyond Akanji and miscontrolled at times. Replaced.

Marcus Rashford 6 Lively whenever he had the opportunity to attack City but was starved of chances. Let fly in the second half but the attempt went high.

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