Jose Mourinho to be appointed as Man Utd manager this week
Jose Mourinho will be appointed manager of Manchester United this week in place of Louis van Gaal, who will not see out the final year of his contract at the club despite Saturday's dramatic extra-time FA Cup win over Crystal Palace.
The agreement was reached at the end of last week and the announcement will come in the next few days. It has been Mourinho’s wish since the initial approach from United that he is given the whole summer to plan for next season and his new club want to give him the maximum time to organise his squad and review the existing transfer targets and departures. The club have waited until the end of the season and kept talks extremely close but news emerged in Spain that a deal had been agreed. It was not clear whether Van Gaal was aware that the decision had been made before he went into the FA Cup final - until now he had been bullish about his position.
The delicate nature of the negotiations have required complete secrecy and the timing of it needed to be sensitive to Van Gaal, for whom the United board including chief executive Ed Woodward have the highest regard. Mourinho has been given the assurances that he believes he needs to compete next season, in particular that he will be given the necessary resources and stability to take on Pep Guardiola across town at Manchester City.
It was Jesse Lingard who produced one of the most memorable winners in FA Cup final history to seal a record-equalling 12th FA Cup triumph for Manchester United with a stunning extra-time volley. Having trailed 1-0 at 80 minutes following a goal by Jason Puncheon, United fought back to take the match into extra time and, even after having Chris Smalling sent off, rallied with 10 men to seal victory.
Lingard had replaced Juan Mata – United’s other goal-scorer – in the 90th minute and delivered an emphatic finish that also ensured Louis van Gaal maintains his proud record of having won at least one trophy at every club he has managed.
It was also a third FA Cup final defeat for Palace manager Alan Pardew, who had earlier celebrated Puncheon’s goal with a prematurely exuberant dance celebration. Pardew was also the West Ham United manager when they lost on penalties to Liverpool in 2006 and was in the Palace team that was defeated in a replay against United back in 1990.
United had predictably dominated possession for the first hour but the introduction of Puncheon had provided Palace with a vital injection of pace and he exploited space behind Mata to shoot his team into the lead.
The goal, however, provoked immediate added urgency in United and they were level within three minutes. Captain Wayne Rooney made a wonderful run through much of the Palace team before crossing for Marouane Fellaini to guide the ball into the path of Mata. There had been controversy earlier in the match when referee Mark Clattenburg failed to play advantage when Connor Wickham was clear on goal – and eventually still put the ball into the net – after being fouled by Smalling.
The United defender was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card in extra-time after blatantly grabbing the ankles of Yannick Bolasie as he sprinted clear on goal. There was concern too for England manager Roy Hodgson over the fitness of Marcus Rashford. The 18-year-old striker had been outstanding throughout the match but was forced off with a knee injury in the 69th minute.