Gundogan's cup return to Wembley reflects past glory

For almost half a century, Jackie Milburn held the record.

- RICHARD JOLLY

Then with a thunderbolt from a Blue, Roberto Di Matteo took it. Louis Saha went still faster, scoring the earliest goal in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Until, on his last outing at England’s national stadium, Ilkay Gundogan let fly. His afternoon ended with him lifting the FA Cup, one of three trophies in his last three games as captain. It began with a goal in 13 seconds in the 2023 final. Now he is off to Wembley again.

“I personally enjoyed it very much when I was last there, yes,” said Gundogan. “It was a great day. Not just Wembley and the FA Cup, also a derby against [Manchester] United and being able to contribute with scoring two goals to get that title felt amazing.”

His perfect goodbye in 2023 meant he missed the rematch of a Manchester derby, United’s victory in the FA Cup last summer. That, in turn, means City return to London as serial semifinalists, in the last four for a seventh consecutive season, rather than as holders when they face Nottingham Forest today.