Man Utd boss Ten Hag carried by four players in Brighton FA Cup win

Manchester United defeated Brighton on penalties at Wembley to set up a mouthwatering FA Cup final with Manchester City in June. The Red Devils and the Seagulls contested a gripping goalless draw, and after coming to the end of 120 minutes still level pegging, Victor Lindelof stepped up to net the winning penalty for Erik ten Hag’s silverware-chasing side. Express Sport takes you through United’s four best players on the day…

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

The right-back had a tough assignment containing Kaoru Mitoma, and though the Brighton winger did find joy at times, Wan-Bissaka stood up to the challenge and restricted the Japanese international’s chances in front of goal.

He proved effective going forward, too, as a mesmerising solo run presented Antony with a gilt-edge chance to take the game in normal time, although the Brazilian spurned the opportunity. All told, Wan-Bissaka’s display once again showed Ten Hag that he need not splash the cash on a new right-back in the summer transfer window, as rumours suggest.

Bruno Fernandes

The Portuguese didn’t have it all his own way against Brighton, and he was unhappy to say the least at being substituted in extra-time, but he was heavily involved from the off and tested Robert Sanchez with a stinging shot early on.

Donning the captain’s armband, Fernandes led by example when it came to pressing from the front, and winning the ball high up the pitch landed central striker Anthony Martial with a handful of half-chances.

The former Sporting Lisbon star certainly didn’t go missing at Wembley, but Ten Hag was left with no choice but to introduce fresh legs late in the game as Fernandes struggled to live up to his rapid start.

Luke Shaw

All eyes were on the England international – most commonly known as a left-back – as Ten Hag put him alongside Lindelof in the centre of defence after Harry Maguire’s horror show against Sevilla.

Shaw acquitted himself extremely well as United defended soundly on the whole, coming out of the back-line at appropriate times and making adventurous runs forward to give the Red Devils an extra cutting edge.

The 27-year-old also made a crucial block to deny March in the depths of extra-time, which preceded United’s penalty-shootout triumph.