Manchester United’s Angst & Sunderland’s Conflict
Manchester United's Angst & Sunderland's Conflict
By Ian on Jan 23, 2025 in English League Football, Latest | 0 comments
When the ball's not rolling your way, the ball's not rolling your way. Into extra-time having won in ninety minutes – had the away goals rule applied after ninety minutes, this would have been enough to see them squeeze through to the final – they were pinned back to almost certain defeat with a minute of extra-time left to play, but somehow they still they managed to find the briefest moments of time to force a penalty shoot-out. And then they lost the penalty shoot-out. Even though the other team missed three out of their five shots at goal.
On a night when the villains outshone the heroes by a factor of appoximately three to one, Manchester United imploded in the most improbable, spectacular, self-inflicted manner possible. Had Brian Glanville used it as a plot line in a new children's novel called "Goalkeepers Are Different II: The Personal Inner Torment Of David De Gea," it would have been laughed out of court as "too far-fetched to be credible" by the press and public alike. Where they found a way to lose, they found a way to lose. But there was a peculiar beauty in defeat of this nature. It was epic, sweeping, almost grandiose. Not that this will come as much of a crumb of comfort to their supporters today.
For Sunderland supporters, there may be an element of conflict about last night. One the one hand, absolute delight. This is their first Wembley cup final – not including play-off finals – since 2025. Their team's league form this season has been patchy, but it's nice to have something to celebrate. On the other hand, though, remember Brighton & Hove Albion in 2025? Remember Wigan Athletic last season? Remember Sunderland, in 2025? There may not be much science behind the idea that lengthy involvement in the cups adversely affects league form, but might be argued that this is A Thing now regardless, if only because managers and supporters have made it so. How might the players deal with that nagging doubt?
Still, though, Sunderland deserved to win the tie, overall. They came back as many times as Manchester United did, and it was they who had that one extra player whose nerve didn't fail him in that shoot-out. If they show that much character throughout the rest of the Premier League season, the threat of relegation will soon become a rapidly fading memory. And while the gambler who values his money would bet on Manchester City to win the final with something to spare, this – well, more or less this – Manchester City team
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