BEER WE GO

ERIK TEN HAG was drenched in champagne while stars sank cans of Carling after Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph.

The Red Devils beat Man City 2-1 in Saturday’s clash, sealing a second trophy in as many years while avenging last season’s defeat to their rivals.

Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo sealed victory at Wembley, with Pep Guardiola’s men all at seat just days after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

United boss Erik ten Hag was in defiant mood when he met the media afterwards, insisting he’d “go somewhere else to win trophies” if dismissed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

But he was all smiles when he returned to his players in the dressing room for jubilant celebrations. Lisandro Martinez, who also played under Ten Hag at Ajax, soaked the gaffer in champagne after uncorking a bottle.

United’s players cheered as Ten Hag made his way across the room, with the FA Cup trophy taking centre stage on the floor.

The champagne continued to flow as United posed for group pictures together.

And players then toasted their success individually, with Victor Lindelof cracking open a Carling while wearing his winners’ medal.

Mason Mount bit down on his to make sure it wasn’t made of chocolate.

While Raphael Varane, who is leaving United this summer, posed alongside Diogo Dalot and Sofyan Amrabat with the cup.

Veterans Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton got their hands on the trophy later, and were joined by Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund.

The Dane looked to be particularly enjoying himself as he clasped an open bottle of bubbly.

Finally, goal scorers Garnacho and Mainoo took a seat together before showing off the trophy, with both men all smiles knowing it was their strikes that sealed glory.

Ten Hag will be hoping the game is not his last amid rumours that United are looking at Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank.

When asked about his future, Ten Hag said: “Two trophies in two seasons and three finals. That’s not bad.

“If they don’t want me any more I go somewhere else to win trophies. That is what I do.”

He added: “I am here to win and I want to build a team. My whole managerial career I have won games and trophies.”

As for the success he has brought to Old Trafford compared to those before him, he said: “When you see the last decade, there were not so many finals and trophies for this club.”

Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rarely puts a foot wrong but he took the blame as his side were deprived of a second successive English double by a shock 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

A week after wrapping up an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row, City were massive favourites to saunter past rivals United in the Wembley sunshine.

But their 35-match unbeaten run in all competitions in open play ended as first-half goals by teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo proved enough for United to end their disappointing season on a huge high.

“Congratulations to Manchester United for winning the FA Cup. I think my game plan was not good,” Guardiola, who has won 15 major trophies for City since taking over in 2016, told reporters.

“The second half was much, much better. We were more intense, in part because we were 2-0 down and had nothing to lose. It was a tight game.

“In general, it was a good performance considering the final, but sometimes this happens. We don’t play against United, we play for ourselves.”

Guardiola elected to change his central defensive pairing with John Stones returning alongside Nathan Ake but his side looked unusually vulnerable as United’s plan to attack quickly on the break worked a treat.

City did find their usual tempo in the second half when Jeremy Doku came on and laid siege to United’s goal but Doku’s goal proved too late to salvage their hopes of becoming the first club to win the double in successive seasons. — Sun/Reuters.