Manchester City 1 Manchester United 2: City player ratings as history slips through City’s hands at Wembley

Here are the City player ratings as history slipped through Manchester City’s fingers as they went down 2-1 to Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Pep Guardiola’s side were aiming to become the first team in English football history to win consecutive Premier League/FA Cup doubles. But it wasn’t to be as they went down to their arch rivals who put in a determined display and capitalised on a poor City performance to deservedly run out winners at Wembley.

First goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Manioo gave Manchester United a deserved 2-nil lead at half time. Their first goal came from mix up in City’s defence as a mix up between Josko Gvardiol and Stefan Ortega allowed Garnacho to open the scoring on the half hour mark. It would get better for United as they doubled their lead 9 minutes later after a sweeping move was finished by Kobbie Manioo.

Pep Guardiola swung the changes at half-time as he introduced Jeremy Doku and Manuel Akanji for Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake. City pressed forward in search of a way back into the game while having to be wary of United’s threat on the break. Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez squandered golden opportunities in the second half as City tried to find a way back into the game. Jeremy Doku did pull a goal back for the world champions in the 87th minute as City pressed for an equaliser.

But it wasn’t to be as Manchester United denied Manchester City the chance for late equaliser.

Here are the City player ratings as history slipped through City’s fingers at Wembley.

City player ratings

Stefan Ortega-4/10: Ortega saved his worst performance for the season on the biggest stage. His mix up with Gvardiol gifted United their opening goal. He could do little about Mainoo’s strike for United’s second. A poor performance by Ortega’s lofty standards.

Kyle Walker-4/10: A poor display from City’s captain. While his pace did save City from Rashford’s threat on the break, Walker was poor in possession. Not his best performance.

John Stones-5/10: It was a surprise to see Stones start yesterday. He looked rusty but did get better as the game progressed.

Nathan Ake-5/10: Another player who was well below his reliable best. He was substituted at half-time as Pep tried to solidify City’s defence.

Josko Gvardiol-5/10: He offered a threat going forward but his mix up with Ortega proved costly.

Rodri-6/10: City’s midfield general tried to lift his side. Not as his best and his unbeaten run with City finally ended.

Mateo Kovacic-6/10: He was arguably City’s best player in the first half. Kovacic tried to impact the game before he was substituted at half-time.

Kevin De Bruyne-4/10: De Bruyne couldn’t impact the game before he was substituted. An unusually subdued performance by De Bruyne’s lofty standards.

Bernardo Silva-6.5/10: I thought he tried hard for the entire game. Bernardo’s effort couldn’t be faulted.

Phil Foden-6.5/10: Foden tried to lift his side, especially in the second half. His ball for Alvarez was sublime but City’s World Cup winner fired the chance wide. His effort can’t be faulted over the 90 minutes.

Erling Haaland-4/10: A nearly day for Haaland. He hit the bar in the second half and could’ve earned City two penalties on another day. Not his day unfortunately.

Substitutes

Jeremy Doku-7.5/10: Doku was dazzling after being introduced at half-time. He scored one and was City’s biggest attacking threat on the day. It may have turned out differently had he started the game given how much space was on offer on City’s left hand side in the first half.

Manuel Akanji-6.5/10: He steadied City’s defence after being introduced at half-time.

Julian Alvarez-6/10: City’s World Cup winner had his chances to make an impact on the game. But it wasn’t to be for the Argentinian international.