Manchester United fans have fond memories of the 1996 FA Cup Final, a game remembered for Eric Cantona’s dramatic late half-volleyed winner.
The other big memory from 1996 which sticks out was Liverpool’s ‘Spice Boys’ white suits, which helped make them a laughing stock at the time, as their bold dress choice was followed with a defeat.
And so to the 2024 FA Cup Final, a game which will be remembered for teenager Kobbie Mainoo scoring the winning goal and delivering a man of the match performance.
In the wake of City’s defeat, the sartorial choice of dress between the two set of teams was raised as a talking point, and possible indication of one of the reasonsManchester United won the game and blew Pep Guardiola’s side away in the first half.
Suited Manchester United players were up for the fight
In the lead up to the FA Cup Final, we looked atpossible reasons Manchester United may spring an upset and win the game.
One of them was the simple possibility Manchester United might ‘want it more’.
City had already clinched the Premier League title, on top of last year’s success, and the hope for United was that they would take this game too casually, while Manchester United had everything on the line, a win needed to salvage a season from disaster.
Speaking to MUTV’s Matchday Review at Wembley, presenter and commentator Liam Bradford pointed out how the way the two teams dressed for the game offered an indication Manchester United were simply taking the occasion more seriously.
He said: “That is the most intensity I’ve seen this season, they ran for each other, they worked for each other, they were brilliant. I’m struggling to find the right words. The performance was sensational, they were at it from minute one.
“If I’m being honest, when I saw Manchester City arrive, and it was jeans and T-shirts, and I’m like, I’m not entirely convinced that’s the right way to treat the FA Cup.
“And then United show up in their beautifully pressed Paul Smith suits, that is the difference today.
“One side that is absolutely 100 per cent professionally ‘at it’, and they got their just desserts.”
United wanted the win more, and it showed
City, no doubt, will have had success at Wembley in the past when turning up in casual wear. On this occasion, it reflected their attitude, where they lacked sharpness, especially in defence.
United ripped them apart in transition, pressing them into mistakes, while Erling Haaland might as well have been lounging in his jeans and T-shirt at the Wembley bar, he was totally ineffective up front.
Manchester United forwardMarcus Rashford was spotted in tears after the game, that was how much the win meant to him, after a difficult season, and there were emotional scenes being played out across the Wembley pitch and dressing room after the team clinched victory.
This was a win to savour, for Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff, and for every Manchester United supporter at Wembley and around the world.
The players treated the game with the utmost importance, and gave it absolutely everything. City will no doubt reflect that somewhere along the line, they missed something, and perhaps their ‘jeans and T-shirt’ approach really did reflect their disappointing display.