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Manchester United begin their defence of the FA Cup with a tantalising third round draw against Arsenal.
The Red Devils salvaged a disastrous campaign last season by winning the world’s oldest club competition against Manchester City at Wembley in the 143rd FA Cup final in May – a repeat of the 2023 matchup.
United beat their bitter local rivals 2-1 to secure the club’s thirteenth FA Cup success, getting revenge for a loss by the reverse score line in the previous year’s final.
Two first-half goals, courtesy of a Josko Gvardiol own goal and a brilliantly-worked team move finished off by Kobbie Mainoo, gave the Reds a two-nil advantage which City were unable to overcome in the second half, despite Jeremy Doku clawing one back for the Citizens.
United had endured a miserable season under previous manager Erik ten Hag prior to this final, with INEOS – who gained full control over the football operation at United in February – coming close to relieving the Dutchman over the summer.
United’s new rulers eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag, with the FA Cup triumph playing a key role in the decision to stick with Ten Hag following a comprehensive ‘end-of-season review’, which saw a number of coaches considered as potential replacements.
The club threw their full weight behind Ten Hag during the summer with over €200 million spent on transfers and a number of new faces added to the 53-year-old’s coaching staff to refresh ideas on the training field.
However, United’s dismal start to this campaign proved the straw which broke the camel’s back for the former Ajax manager, as INEOS dismissed Ten Hag at the end of October following a disappointing defeat to West Ham, with United languished in the bottom half of the table, having failed to win a single match in the Europa League.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim was immediately pursued as a replacement for the Dutchman with the 39-year-old coach taking the reigns at Old Trafford during the November international break.
And Amorim will be aiming to defend the FA Cup – a trophy with a special place in the club’s history – when United face their old rivals Arsenal.
The third round fixtures will take place early next year with the Red Devils travelling to the Emirates on the weekend of January 11.
Ironically, United are next in action on Wednesday night in the same fixture in the Premier League – a crucial away match against Arsenal – with a potential win leaving the club just three points behind the Gunners, despite the horror start to the season.
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