My moment of the year

As 2024 stumbles to a close at Manchester United, let's take a brief moment to reflect on the highs rather than anguish over the lows.

In a year of plenty of the latter, moments don't get much greater than the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May.

United's 13th FA Cup-winning run probably produced the club's two best moments of 2024, in fact.

The 4-3 quarter-final victory against Liverpool is the most emotional match I have attended at Old Trafford since becoming a season ticket holder in 2015.

But Erik ten Hag's heavy underdogs went one better by executing the Dutchman's gameplan to perfection against Manchester City in the final.

Dread was the overwhelming feeling in the build-up. Ten Hag was expected to lose his job, and you'd likely be able to count the number of the world's punters who backed United on one hand.

Two academy graduates - Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo - netting the decisive goals in a 2-1 victory made the occasion all the more sweet.

Rich traditions overcoming modern, state-backed dominance. Days like that sunny afternoon in May are the ones that Manchester United Football Club is all about.

Tears were flowing (and not just from my eyes) as I stood in the heavens at Wembley in disbelief. Dread quickly transitioned into immense pride.

Vengeance for that agonising narrow defeat in the first-ever Manchester derby FA Cup final a year earlier.

It just went to show that no matter how bad things stoop at this incredible football club, there will always be a chance of magic.

At the start of the sixth rebuild since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, that sparks desperately needed hope under Ruben Amorim.

Find more from Alex Turk at Stretford Paddock