Manchester United turned the tides against Manchester City at Wembley today. The Red Devils gained an unlikely victory against the Premier League Champions Manchester City thanks to their two young guns, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. But it doesn’t stop there. Both players achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Pep Guardiola’s team, joining former legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Both teenage sensations scored in the 30th and the 39th minute respectively leading United to a 2-1 win. This makes Garnacho and Mainoo the only teens after Norman Whiteside and Cristiano Ronaldo to score in the FA Cup finals for Manchester United. Whiteside did it in 1983, whereas CR7 led United to a victory in 2004. This gives Erik ten Hag a lot of confidence, as the Dutch manager was under heavy scrutiny for his league performances.

It was a rather dull season for ten Hag with many issues including the team’s performance. However, this could mark a new beginning for United with their young stars making waves. Notably, this season marked a breakout year for Garnacho. He’s been a breath of fresh air for the 13-time Premier League champions scoring some astonishing goals.

Although Garnacho scored just ten times and provided five assists this whole season, few of them have been match-winning ones. The 19-year-old also played a vital role in the team reaching the semifinal of the FA Cup. He assisted Amad Diallo’s 120th-minute strike against arch-rivals Liverpool in an extra-time thriller. Meanwhile, citing Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite player, Garnacho is not just celebrating like him but also having a similar impact on the team.

After a similar performance to Cristiano Ronaldo, Alejandro Garnacho hails Kobbie Mainoo

The left winger channeled his inner Cristiano Ronaldo, replicating the Portuguese star’s heroics from the 2004 final. Ronaldo also scored the opening goal against Millwall in 2004, setting up the momentum for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. Similarly, it was Garnacho’s first goal, taking advantage of Josko Gvardiol’s inaccurate header that opened the doors for United’s victory. Nevertheless, the United star acknowledged even Mainoo’s heavy impact on the team.

The Argentina international reportedly said, “Incredible. The best player in the squad and he’s the youngest. We’re also good friends. I’m so happy for him,” implying that Mainoo could be that one star to look out for.

Overall, despite recent challenges, the club’s future seems bright thanks to the positive signals from these two stars.