Pep Guardiola hails Erik ten Hag as an 'extraordinary manager and lovely man', with Dutchman on the brink of being sacked... but the Man City boss insists the Red Devils were NOT the better side at Wembley

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Erik ten Hag following Manchester United's 2-1 victory over his side in the FA Cup final.

The Premier League champions came into this match as overwhelming favourites, having clinched their fourth consecutive league title last weekend. Despite that, United shocked Pep Guardiola's side in the first half, with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scoring to give the Red Devils a 2-0 lead. 

Jeremy Doku would pull a goal back late on, but it was not enough to salvage a win, with Ten Hag going on to clinch his second piece of silverware as Man United boss, having taken over in July 2022. 

United have endured a torrid season under the Dutchman, slumping to their lowest finish in the Premier League since the 1989-90 season. Reports from The Guardian on Friday claimed that 'Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership team would sack Ten Hag, regardless of whether they won the FA Cup.'   

After suffering defeat at Wembley, Guardiola only had praise for Ten Hag, stating: 'They [United] have to make a decision [on Teg Hag's future].

'I don't know, but he is a lovely person, an extraordinary manager, winning the FA Cup was important for them like it was for us last season.'

Speaking on his side's defeat, he added: 'We talked, we hug each other, now we are sad, but we celebrate tomorrow what an incredible achievement we have done and we will come back. In football and life, you win and lose… in the second half, we didn't give up and kept going.'

While United took the spoils on Saturday, simultaneously securing themselves a berth in the Europa League next season, Guardiola was adamant that his side were the better team throughout the FA Cup final. 

When asked if he thought the Red Devils were the better team on the day, Guardiola resolutely said: 'No.'

City had 19 goal attempts to United's 11, while the Premier League champions dominated ball possession 75 per cent to the Red Devils' 25 per cent. 

'The second half we were there all the game. Manchester United are always a transition team,' he added.

'First half we struggled a bit but second half we were better. In general it is a good performance for a final.' 

In the second half, City stepped up their game, having a whopping 16 attempts on goal. Yet they could not overturn United's commanding 2-0 lead, with Guardiola admitting that his side just couldn't find the back of the net.  

'We lost the game. Congratulations to United. It was a tight game,' he said. 

'It can happen. Many things. At the end, they scored two goals and we couldn't score more.'