Six Manchester United players showed the character Erik ten Hag demands at Wembley

The Wembley arch was red and so was the lighting inside the Manchester United team coach. Bruno Fernandes beckoned Victor Lindelof over for a selfie. “Iceman,” Fernandes posted. Lindelof was cool with his penalty.

Fernandes seemed to know better than anyone that Lindelof would arrange a first all-Manchester FA Cup final. The ball had not been fished from the Seagulls behind the goal and Lindelof was almost in the penalty area. Fernandes started lining up the United players and staff to prepare for their celebratory charge.

Many would have considered that to be hubris but Fernandes did not have a flicker of doubt. Lindelof’s kick was the best of the 13 conversions; struck with casual poise but so clinically.

Also read: Reactions before and after Lindelof's kick show what it means to Fernandes and Weghorst

The tip of Robert Sanchez’s glove will have wavered as he reached for Marcus Rashford’s shot and he palmed Marcel Sabitzer’s into the side of the net. Lindelof’s was utterly unsaveable.

Lindelof struck the winning spotkick in Sweden Under-21s' European Championship final triumph against Portugal in 2015 and he was the last of United's outfield takers in the Europa League final in Gdansk in 2021. On both occasions, he aimed high.

Should United have another shootout against City on June 3, Lindelof may rise up the list of takers. He should certainly be further up the centre-back pecking order. Underused in United's 32 games since the World Cup, Lindelof has started three successive games for the first time since November.

Typically, Lindelof was one of the first United players on the team coach, eager to be reunited with his wife, Maja, and two young boys. What has been an unfulfilling season for the Swede could end on a