It was a shocking day in English football on Saturday (May 25) after Manchester United stunned arch-rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final at the Wembley Stadium. A 2-1 win for United saw them lift their 13th title in the prestigious domestic competition and ended the season on a high. However, this won’t be the only final fans will have their eyes on as Real Madrid could also lift the Champions League trophy at the Wembley Stadium seven days after United’s win.
Patterns of comparisons
And this won’t be the first time Real Madrid could lift the Champions League title after United managed to clinch the FA Cup. In 2016, exactly in similar circumstances, Real Madrid managed to win the Champions League seven days after Manchester United had won the FA Cup. United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final after extra time in 2016 where they came from behind. Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane’s first managerial tenure would then go on to lift the Champions League in Milan’s San Siro.
If similar comparisons are drawn, the Champions League final will again take place in exactly seven days. Interestingly, in 2024 under Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, Manchester United won the FA Cup having earlier repeated the trick under Louis van Gaal, another Dutch veteran. In the 2016 Champions League knockout stage, Real Madrid beat Manchester City while it was the same script in the 2024 Champions League. In both 2016 and 2024, Manchester United also failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League standings.
Real Madrid’s opponent in the 2016 Champions League final- Atletico Madrid was playing in its third final while this season’s finalist Borussia Dortmund will also take guard in their third final. Both in 2016 and in this year’s final the Los Blancos have been led by Spanish centerbacks – Sergio Ramos and Nacho Fernandez. In both 2016 and 2024, Bayern Munich were the losing semifinalists further adding to the similar patterns.
Bad news for Erik ten Hag?
However, if the series of such patterns repeat, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag won’t be a happy person as he would be the favourite to lose his job. In 2016, then-United manager Louis van Gaal lost his job despite winning the FA Cup and was replaced by a new manager in the new season.
For now Manchester United will enjoy the moment before both Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid take center stage next week at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London.
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