ILKAY GUNDOGAN has lifted the lid on Pep Guardiola’s FA Cup masterplan against Manchester United.
But even City didn’t expect it to work after just 12 seconds.
The Premier League champions secured their second trophy of the season with victory in Saturday’s showpiece event at Wembley.
Gundogan scored both goals in the 2-1 win over City’s rivals United, who only managed to hit the target thanks to a controversial penalty.
And Guardiola’s men are now hoping to make it a historic Treble with victory over Inter Milan in next weekend’s Champions League final.
However, the talking point today was less to do with the result after Gundogan’s incredible early opener.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
The German midfielder struck after just 12 seconds, making his goal the fastest in FA Cup final history.
The previous record was set in 2009 by Louis Saha when he netted in Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea after 25 seconds.
And Gundogan’s goal came about after just six touches from City’s kick-off.
The veteran has now lifted the lid on Guardiola’s plan to hit United quickly.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
City, who usually play short passes, knocked the ball back to goalie Stefan Ortega at the start of the game.
He then launched a long kick up towards Erling Haaland, who took on the role of target man by knocking the ball to ground.
United defender Victor Lindelof then failed to clear his lines properly, allowing Gundogan the time and space to smash in a cracking volley from distance.
However, not even the City captain and his boss ever thought their plan would come to fruition so early in the game.
Gundogan revealed: “Well obviously [the first goal took me by surprise]. We know how we do, how we play, how we want to play at kick-off.
“We aimed for that, to go long for Erling and then to get the second ball and try to attack quick.
“I guess for the first time this season we’ve scored, the ball was just placed amazingly for me, and I just had to hit it.
“It was quite a good strike and it went in, it was amazing.”
Pundit and former United goalie Peter Schmeichel was certainly impressed by Gundogan, saying: “He said that was the plan, to get it back to Ortega and then up to Haaland and pick it up from there.
“12 seconds in, that’s quite a plan.”
City boss Guardiola was also full of praise for Gundogan, who joined City with the Spaniard seven years ago.
In response to Gary Lineker hailing “the perfect start”, Guardiola made a long-ball gesture before saying: “It was the genius manager! I said ‘Erling, get the ball’, English football!
“What a season [Gundogan’s had.] When we arrived the first time together in Manchester, the skills are there but (also) a special mentality.
“When you have a lot of players who play this type of game like a friendly, and they handle the pressure and say ‘OK let’s have fun’, you are becoming a good team, otherwise you cannot do it.”
Finally, team-mate Jack Grealish thanks Gundogan for scoring his two goals after giving away a penalty to United for handball.
Grealish yelped: “Gundo is a magician, he saved me!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
