Fergie’s seal of approval and Rashford’s tears – inside Man Utd’s FA Cup celebrations

A few hours before the champagne-soaked celebrations, Erik ten Hag sat his players down in the Wembley away dressing room and showed them an emotionally charged video.

The Manchester United manager always believed in his players, even after the season they endured, but to get that across to his team there was a stirring montage to motivate them ahead of the FA Cup final against the best team in England.

Ten Hag has been in the dark over his own future, with United’s new Ineos co-owners to make a decision on the manager, so he knew it could be his last stand. His last chance to show what his fully-fit players were capable of. Possibly his last team-talk to inspire his squad.

As one member of staff mentioned, you could see in the United players’ eyes during the warm-up that they were fired up. “We did some special things,” said Ten Hag of the video. “They were so emotional. The emotions went into their minds and their minds drove the bodies.”

If this was to be Ten Hag’s final match, his players executed his plan to a tee. They stayed compact, ran City’s players into the corners of the pitch, then countered swiftly and devastatingly when they won the ball. With victory against the odds completed, it was back to the dressing room, where Ten Hag had put fire in the belly of his players.

Party time for United

With the Cup placed in the middle of the changing space, Lisandro Martinez, who had seemed to be making a point when he rushed to his manager and hoisted him in the air at the final whistle, was the first to soak Ten Hag with bubbly.

The Dutchman huddled his team together for a photo and with his arms around Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho he started jumping and chanting with the rest of his players.

Marcus Rashford sprayed them all with champagne like a Formula One driver winning a Grand Prix. Rashford had the role of DJ, blasting the celebratory music out of his huge JBL “portable” speaker, which was bigger than carry-on luggage. ‘On One Tonight’ by rap artist Gunna was the anthem of the dressing room, played over and over, and players were already on one themselves with Budweisers opened and champagne swigged.

Less than an hour after the final whistle, United dignitaries headed from the Royal Box and the private boxes to the dressing room to give their congratulations to the team and Ten Hag. Sir Alex Ferguson, winner of five FA Cups, was one of the first to head towards the tunnel area.

Flanked by former chief executive David Gill and co-owner Avram Glazer, they had 10 minutes around the dressing room before letting the celebrations continue. As he left, Ferguson was asked for a verdict. “Fantastic”, he said. One word to sum up the day which started with United given little hope of glory. The wife of another director passed along and described the match as the miracle of the day.

It was not long before co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford were heading towards the party zone. Ten Hag’s handshake was formal in the Royal Box when he headed up to collect his winners’ medal.

Ratcliffe now has a decision over the manager. On one hand, how can his team be so poor against Crystal Palace just three weeks before one of the great FA Cup final performances. “I’m proud,” said Ten Hag afterwards. “We were a team from the first whistle to the final.” If that was his last game, he went out in style.

After United’s new co-owner and decision-maker made way, players started filtering out onto the team bus, ready to continue the celebrations. Victor Lindelof was the first out, still wearing his match shirt and clutching a Budweiser in one hand and his boots in the other. The Swede also posted a picture on Instagram of him knocking back a can of Carling in the immediate aftermath of the win.

Rasmus Hojlund emerged with a bottle of champagne, trying to chug down his drink but getting it on his trousers, and his celebrations continued on the bus.

Kobbie Mainoo wore a bucket hat in United colours, having scored the decisive goal in a performance that suggests he will be in the heart of the club’s midfield for years to come.

Jonny Evans, brought in by Ten Hag as a free agent and ending up an FA Cup winner at 36, backed his manager to keep his job.

“I have a good relationship with him and hope he stays,” Evans said.

Last out of the dressing room, fittingly, was Ten Hag. Wearing his ankle-showing Cup final suit, it was job done by the Dutchman. With players like Martinez fit, he showed what his team can do and how his gameplan can defeat the best.

“I remember when we played against Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago and we played s---,” said Ten Hag. “The fans backed us. They saw the problems we had and also the character on the pitch. They had so many setbacks, so many punches we got on our chin. All the setbacks and every time we fought back individually and as a team we dealt with and we got a trophy.”

The guest of honour at United’s afterparty was American YouTuber and rapper IShowSpeed, who posed for photos with Ten Hag and the United players. The manager was still keeping up appearances, his tie and suit jacket firmly in place. The same could not be said for most of the players.