Man United Manager Ten Hag Faces Ultimate Test against City

Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts. (Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts. (Reuters)
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Man United Manager Ten Hag Faces Ultimate Test against City

Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts. (Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts. (Reuters)

Year-end exams don’t come much tougher than the one facing Erik ten Hag and Manchester United.

The Dutch manager was hired to return the storied club to its former glories after a decade of decline. Against Manchester City in the FA Cup final he will get the chance to show how far United has come in his first season in charge.

While a one-off match cannot judge an entire campaign, the contrast in emotions for United’s fans will be stark depending on the outcome.

A win on June 3 would not only secure a second trophy for Ten Hag — after the League Cup — but also serve as a statement of intent that he is building a team ready to go head-to-head with City, perhaps as soon as next season.

Defeat wouldn’t necessarily alter that, but it would be painful confirmation of Guardiola’s ongoing dominance of English soccer.

The potential that City could also be in contention for a treble of trophies — the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League — provides added spice to the occasion.

United remains the only English team to have won those three major trophies in one season, in 1999. The chance to directly block City’s attempt to emulate that feat will likely be an extra incentive.

“I understand, of course, the feelings from the Man United fans about it,” Ten Hag said Sunday.

United beat Brighton 7-6 on penalty kicks after the FA Cup semifinal match at Wembley ended 0-0 through extra time.

On Saturday, City made light work of second-division Sheffield United in a 3-0 win, also at the national stadium.

This will be the first time the Manchester rivals have played each other in the FA Cup final, but there are parallels to be drawn with the semifinals match between them in the same competition in 2011.

After three years under the ownership of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, City had lavished money on superstar signings like Yaya Toure, David Silva and Carlos Tevez, but the club was still waiting for a first major trophy since 1976.

Former United manager Alex Ferguson had dismissed the rival as “noisy neighbors” following the influx money from its new owners.

But Toure provided a sign of the changing landscape of English soccer by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win in the semifinals. City went on to lift the FA Cup, with Toure the matchwinner again in the final against Stoke.

City has dominated ever since, winning 13 more trophies, including six Premier League titles.

United, meanwhile, has suffered one setback after another after Ferguson retired in 2013 and went through four different permanent managers before hiring Ten Hag last year.

While the former Ajax coach has had his own difficulties in his first season at Old Trafford, he has sparked hope that the good times could be on their way back. United is on course to qualify for the Champions League and also in contention to win a second cup.

“We are on the right track. One trophy, another final and fighting for the top four,” goalkeeper David de Gea said. “It’s not enough but it’s a big step from last season.”

After losing 6-3 to City in Ten Hag's first Manchester derby in October, United won 2-1 in January, in what the manager described as the “perfect game.”

It is likely to take close to perfection to beat City in the final, with Guardiola's team in relentless form as the season enters the final stages.

The win against Sheffield extended its unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.

“The momentum is key, it doesn’t matter if you play every three or four days if you are winning, winning,” Guardiola said.

While Guardiola has assembled possibly the strongest squad in club soccer — star striker Erling Haaland has scored 48 goals already this season — Ten Hag is still in the process building a team in his own image at United.

United could not compete with City to sign Haaland last summer, but the improvements over the season could boost Ten Hag's chances of convincing an elite striker — the caliber of Harry Kane, for example — that he could win the biggest prizes at Old Trafford.

Win or lose, progress has undoubtedly been made under Ten Hag, even if City's 11-point lead over United is evidence of the gap between the rivals.

Victory in the final, however, would be a symbolic statement that may suggest the power balance in Manchester and English soccer could be about to shift again.



Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo to Return on January 17-18

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA
Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA
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Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo to Return on January 17-18

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA
Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla. SPA

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, the world’s first organized desert polo tournament, will return to AlUla from January 17 to 18, 2025, offering a spectacular celebration of top-class sport, culture, and equestrian heritage.
Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2025 will take place at AlFursan Equestrian Village within the stunning surroundings of the ancient oasis city.
"This tournament has become a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s sports and social calendar, showcasing the unique blend of tradition and modernity that defines our region,” said Chief Sports Officer at the RCU Ziad AlSuhaibani.

“We look forward to continuing to inspire, connect, and elevate the global appreciation of equestrian sports, while aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030's goals of enhancing cultural tourism and offering world-class sporting experiences in the Kingdom,” he added.
Richard Mille is returning as the title sponsor of the event, underscoring the brand’s commitment to excellence in sports and events as well as reinforcing its partnership with this one-of-a-kind polo tournament.
The two-day event will feature a blend of world-class polo, history, heritage, and glamour, making it an unmissable occasion on Saudi Arabia’s sports and social calendar.
Some of the top players in global polo are set to participate in the tournament, including Argentine world-famous polo player Adolfo Cambiaso, founder and captain of La Dolfina Polo Team.
Joining Cambiaso in AlUla will be his son Adolfo "Poroto" Cambiaso and his daughter Mia Cambiaso. Other notable players include Nacho Figueras – dubbed the “David Beckham of polo” – and Pablo Mac Donough. Additionally, more professional female players will again participate after their debut at the 2024 tournament.
The event will feature six teams of three players, comprising one professional, one international patron, and one dignitary. Two days of action-packed matches will see the teams battle for the prestigious Desert Polo trophy.