Sir Jim Ratcliffe has paid tribute to the Manchester United team after they stunned Premier League champions Manchester City to lift the FA Cup trophy on Saturday. Erik ten Hag’s side saw off the Citizens 2-1 as their Dutch manager clinched silverware for the second time of his United tenure.

The Red Devils have endured an underwhelming season after losing 19 games in all competitions and finishing eighth in the Premier League.

But they saved one of their biggest performances of the season for their most important clash as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo struck in the first half against City, before Jeremy Doku pulled one back moments from the end.

Doku’s effort wasn’t enough to spark a comeback as United held firm, with the result seeing Ten Hag add another trophy to the Carabao Cup he won last year.

And Ratcliffe was full of praise for the United players and staff after the showdown as he exclaimed: “It is a glorious feeling to win the FA Cup final at Wembley.

“Manchester United were clearly not the favourites to win today but they played with total commitment and skill and overcame one of the great teams in football. We are all very proud of the players and the staff who work tirelessly to support them."

Despite his positive words, Ratcliffe failed to mention the future of Ten Hag, who was appointed United boss in the summer of 2022 following a four-and-a-half year spell in charge of Ajax.

On Friday, The Guardian reported that United intended to sack Ten Hag whether he won the FA Cup final or not. The club have felt compelled to replace the boss following their lowest league finish since 1990 as faith in the Dutchman has dwindled due to the team’s struggles.

Ten Hag has already met with Ratcliffe and the businessman’s advisors to review the campaign. And Saturday’s success appears to have come too late to save the current manager’s position.

Ten Hag was quizzed about his role as United manager when he spoke to Gary Lineker on the BBC minutes after the final whistle had blown in the capital.

But the 54-year-old was unable to rule out a United departure as he told the former England striker: “I don’t know [if this will be my final game].

“The only thing I am doing is preparing my team, develop my team, progress my team and individual players because for me this is a project. When I came in, I can say it was a mess. We are now better. I have always said we are better. We are by far not where we want to be.”