City, having already won the Premier League, will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final next Saturday in Istanbul, with the chance to repeat United’s accomplishment of 1999.
And City captain Gundogan was the game-winner once more, ensuring his place in history with the quickest goal in FA Cup final history, a magnificent volley after only 12 seconds, surpassing Louis Saha’s strike for Everton after 25 seconds against Chelsea in 2009.
After 33 minutes, the video assistant referee determined that Jack Grealish had handled, and Bruno Fernandes calmly sent Stefan Ortega the wrong way from the spot.
The pivotal contribution came from Gundogan, who volleyed Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick past United keeper David de Gea six minutes after the break to give City the FA Cup for the sixth time.
With the league and FA Cup secured, the opportunity to win the Champions League versus Inter Milan awaits. If they win, they will be only the second English club to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
United tried everything they could to stop City’s proposal, but the league winners had too much power – and in Gundogan, they possessed a player who thrives under pressure.
His two goals, including that astonishing early opening, highlighted what a significant figure he has become, securing him of a particular place in the annals of City’s glorious years.
And in John Stones, City have a world-class player in his current role set by Guardiola, one that allows him to advance into midfield and use all of his poise and quality.
City’s next opponents are Istanbul and Inter Milan, and in their current relentless, irresistible mindset, it would be more of a surprise if they did not clinch the Treble than if they did.
Man United have made progress, now to the next step
Manchester United’s season concluded in the terrible disappointment of a cup-final defeat by their neighbors, but any evaluation must consider this to be a season of growth under Erik ten Hag.
United won the Carabao Cup for the first time in six years, and they also returned to the Champions League. They may have settled for that after losing at home to Brighton and then being humiliated 4-0 at Brentford to begin the season.
Ten Hag will now want additional additions and upgrades to propel United forward in his second season as manager.
United are growing increasingly confident of acquiring Chelsea’s England midfielder Mason Mount, while a top-line striker is a primary goal, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane frequently linked.
Ten Hag must also decide if David de Gea will be his first-choice goalkeeper next season following another subpar performance here.
De Gea was fixed to the spot for Gundogan’s goal, then went down desperately slowly for the second, sluggish to react to a volley that was not hit cleanly and bounced in front of the Spaniard twice before he finally got a hand to it.
Captain Harry Maguire will almost certainly be on the move after being marginalized by Ten Hag, who will see this season as a springboard to get United closer to where he wants them to be.
It’s been a wonderful season, but it’ll be followed by a hectic summer.
