Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne all on target at Wembley
Sunday 19 May 2019 11:11, UK
Manchester City hammered Watford 6-0 to win the FA Cup on Saturday and clinch an historic treble.
Here, we assess the performers for both teams at Wembley...
Ederson - 7
City's goalkeeper goes into almost every game knowing that the man at the other end will be busier but that just makes it more important that Ederson gets the big moments right and he did so at Wembley. His one-on-one save from Roberto Pereyra with the game goalless after 10 minutes was crucial.
Kyle Walker - 6
Had lots of the ball throughout and fed the ball to Riyad Mahrez plenty of times but his decision-making was not always on point. Walker had the opportunity to break on Watford in first-half injury time but earned a stern rebuke from Raheem Sterling for failing to pick out a teammate. Enjoyed himself in the second half.
Vincent Kompany - 7
The City captain had claimed in the build-up to the game that he favoured the physical challenge of facing forwards like Troy Deeney but that wasn't always obvious in the early stages. However, Kompany gradually managed to assert some control - and skipper this side to an historic treble.
Aymeric Laporte - 7
The City announcer introduced the Frenchman as the club's Rolls Royce defender and while he is someone who seems to have extra gears there were a few misfires too in a first half in which he didn't have it all his own way. Made a vital challenge to stop Gerard Deulofeu early in the second half.
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6
Like Walker, the City left-back had most of the space that was out there on the Wembley pitch and relished it as the game went on but he will be grateful to Ederson for bailing him out with the save from Pereyra. It was Zinchenko's poor pass that sparked the break and left Pep Guardiola with head in hands.
Ilkay Gundogan - 7
A bit sloppy in his passing in the early phase of the game, silky Ilkay soon took charge of things with his metronomic passing. Watford would have been hoping to exploit the absence of Fernandinho in midfield but Gundogan did more than enough to see City home with plenty to spare.
Bernardo Silva - 9
Brilliant as ever. Had City's first chance when he got in behind the Watford defence but could not connect with the ball in the left channel. Soon, though, he turned provider to double his team's lead later in the half. It was Bernardo's beautiful pass that opened up the opposition - something City fans are now well used to - and his driving run down the left set up Raheem Sterling for the fifth goal too.
David Silva - 7
Not for the first time, and City supporters will hope not for the last, Silva had a decisive role to play in a big game for the club. It was the Spaniard who popped up in the penalty box to open the scoring. There was a booking after the break but that wasn't going to be enough to ruin his day. Earned a standing ovation.
Riyad Mahrez - 7
Afforded room to work in out wide and while Watford stuck to their task they clearly found it difficult to read where the ball was going next. Mahrez's clever pass to Bernardo Silva looked to have put him through early on and the Algerian continued to cause problems before being replaced after 55 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus - 9
Entrusted with the centre-forward role as Sergio Aguero sat on the bench, Jesus more than justified his selection. He was unfortunate to have to settle for an assist for City's second goal when Sterling snatched it from him on the line but that didn't make him selfish. He laid on the third goal for Kevin De Bruyne who repeated the favour soon after to allow Jesus to finally got his goal.
Raheem Sterling - 9
It was once suggested that Sterling's hunger to score wasn't quite there but he certainly wanted his goal here, nicking the second off Jesus, before it was eventually handed back to Jesus after the game. He had already provided the assist for the opener by out-jumping the defender to divert the ball to Silva and capped it off with two late goals. It was a fitting end to a magnificent season.
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Kevin De Bruyne - 9
For all City's success this season, it hasn't been all that De Bruyne would have hoped for on a personal level. At least he got to end it in style with this sensational cameo off the bench. Showed wonderful calm to score the third goal and then had the vision to set up Jesus to score the fourth on the counter-attack.
Leroy Sane - n/a
Got to join in the fun when he came on for Gundogan in the second half. He will have wanted more time on the pitch in this game and in this season as a whole but Sane finishes it as a treble winner. There's more to come.
John Stones - n/a
Has had a watching brief during the business end of the season and how he would have loved to end the season with a goal in the FA Cup final. It nearly came his way too but Gomes managed to deny him.
Heurelho Gomes - 5
Making what is likely to be the final appearance of his career, Gomes was his typically proactive self and while his handling wasn't spot on he could not be blamed for the whirlwind of City movement ahead of him. Not the way he would have wanted to bow out but he did make some decent saves.
Kiko Femenia - 6
A willing runner when getting forward in offence and just as enthusiastic when sweeping round defensively, he was bright and alert in the face of adversity. Just had little chance to get at City as the game was taken away from his team.
Adrian Mariappa - 6
Produced some determined defending when Watford were well in it before the interval. Made a block from Jesus midway through the first half and put in a tackle on the City striker soon after to deny a certain goal when the Brazilian was otherwise one-on-one with Gomes. In the end, there was just far too much to do.
Craig Cathcart - 5
Seemed happy enough when dealing with the endless crosses that were put into Watford's box during the first half but his task became much harder when the game wore on and his side felt compelled to chase it. Couldn't cope with the counter-attack and was not afforded the protection he needed.
Jose Holebas - 5
The red card that would have kept the veteran out of this game was rescinded but how thankful he will be feeling for that is unclear after enduring a difficult afternoon. Tasked with dealing with the twin threat of Mahrez and Bernardo, it was too much to ask and got no easier when De Bruyne arrived.
Will Hughes - 6
Picked up the ball in some awkward positions as he was forced to deal with City's pressing in some deep areas and couldn't keep hold of it as often as he would have liked. Got through plenty of defensive work before being replaced by Tom Cleverley.
Etienne Capoue - 6
There were signs in the opening stages of the ball-winning presence that earned Capoue the player of the year award for Watford but there was just too much happening around him to maintain any control of the game.
Abdoulaye Doucoure - 5
Booked when fuming over a penalty appeal after the ball struck Kompany's arm, Doucoure only had himself to blame for the opening goal when he lost possession to Bernardo. Could not influence the game as he would have liked.
Roberto Pereyra - 6
What a moment that was for Watford. It's impossible to think it would all have been different but that won't stop Pereyra wondering. Unfortunately, one-on-one with Ederson he could only find the right boot of the goalkeeper.
Gerard Deulofeu - 6
Set up Pereyra's chance and his dribbling was certainly a threat while the result was still in the balance. Would no doubt have had a lot of fun on the other team but was up against it under the circumstances.
Troy Deeney - 6
Won one early header in the battle with Kompany but had little to work with. City were fearful of Watford's threat from set pieces but they were not enough of them for Deeney to feast on and the skipper was left to chase the ball for much of the contest.
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Isaac Success - n/a
Javi Gracia had to try something different but Success was not able to turn the tide of the game, coming on with Watford already 3-0 down.
Andre Gray - n/a
Had one or two opportunities to run at the City defences but did not pick the right options. In truth, the game had gone by then anyway.
Tom Cleverley - n/a
The fourth goal had already gone in when Cleverley emerged from the bench and all he really got for his troubles were the boos of the City supporters.
