If this was his last match as Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal at least went out on a note of triumph. He arrived for his post-match press conference with the FA Cup, planting the trophy on the table in front of him, and when the questions were done he lifted it on two separate occasions as he made his way to the door. “Thank you for the congratulations,” he repeated twice, glowering at the people he described, with no great affection, as his “friends in the media”.

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By that stage the news had already been leaked that José Mourinho, Van Gaal’s old friend and colleague, should be installed in the coming days and, amid all the celebrations on the pitch a short while earlier, it was certainly noticeable that United’s supporters reacted differently when the Dutchman was shown on the giant screens. There were even some isolated boos when it was his turn to lift the trophy and the cheer was nothing like as loud as that moment when Sir Alex Ferguson appeared, pointed at himself and clenched a fist, with that familiar rubicund smile.

United’s supporters must pine for those happy old days but at least the club have won their first major trophy since Ferguson announced his retirement three years ago. It has taken longer than the club might have anticipated but finally, after all the disappointments of the Van Gaal era, the accusations of blandness and the permanent suspicion that a once-mighty club have been dramatically under-achieving, they have remembered what it is like to win a trophy and the joys it can bring.

They also had to do it in the manner of the old United – or, at least, with some of the old capacity for worrying their supporters – given that Jason Puncheon had given Crystal Palace a 78th-minute lead and Chris Smalling was sent off for his second bookable offence after Juan Mata’s equaliser had taken the game into extra time.

The winner came in the 111th minute courtesy of Jesse Lingard’s equivalent of Lee Martin’s famous goal when these sides met at the old Wembley 26 years earlier and Alan Pardew might come to regret his touchline dance when Puncheon volleyed past David de Gea and Palace’s manager showed the moves of a tipsy uncle at a wedding. Pardew looked like he had been spent the morning practising in the mirror but Palace were ahead for only two minutes and United showed great competitive courage after Smalling’s dismissal late in the first period of extra-time.

Lingard might never have struck a shot with more power and precision and, on the balance of play, it was difficult to argue it was undeserved. United had struck the post twice in the second half and Marcus Rashford’s speed, directness and high confidence made him a frequent danger until he was forced off with a second-half injury that might threaten his involvement in England’s pre-Euro 2016 plans. Wayne Rooney was prominently involved in his new midfield position and Marouane Fellaini, often the player United’s supporters like the least, justified his selection after three games out with suspension.

More than anything, United showed great competitive courage after the jolt of going behind and, though the occasion will probably be remembered for Lingard’s winner, perhaps the most impressive part was the way they absolutely refused to accept defeat. Rooney, showing all his leadership qualities, eluded three challenges on the run that led to Mata’s equaliser. His cross was expertly turned across the six-yard area and Mata provided the volleyed finish after Fellaini had chested the ball down.

Pardew reflected afterwards about the moment in the first half when Rooney chased Wilfried Zaha into the penalty area, missing the ball with his sliding challenge but was given the benefit of the doubt by the referee, Mark Clattenburg. Puncheon’s goal left Palace on the brink of the greatest result in their 110-year history and the glory could still have gone their way if another substitute, Dwight Gayle, had managed to beat De Gea with their best chance of extra-time, with the score at 1-1.

What a noise the Palace fans created, rarely letting the volume drop and urging on their team during those difficult moments when Fellaini lashed one shot against a post, Anthony Martial struck the frame of the goal with a header and Pardew’s men struggled to cause too many problems at the other end.

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It was unusual for United’s supporters to be out-sung so comprehensively but, then again, it was an unusual occasion in many ways. It was difficult to think of another FA Cup final when the winning manager has been condemned so quickly and, if that will be remembered as an embarrassment for United, there was an awkward sub-plot for the Football Association as well, bearing in mind the ridiculous razzmatazz that preceded the game. With the teams waiting to come out, the build-up involved shooting flames, a bemusing cameo from Tinie Tempah and enough nonsense to delay the start by five minutes, all capped off by a singer who was supposed to be taking us through the national anthem missing her cue. Karen Harding later described herself as “mortified”.

Thankfully, a game of football did eventually break out and, though it was certainly not a classic, that probably was not a tremendous surprise for anyone who has watched United closely in the Van Gaal era.

On this occasion, though, he could legitimately argue that his tactics and substitutions had worked. United have now equalled Arsenal’s record of 12 FA Cup wins and Lingard will never forget the moment when Antonio Valencia’s cross was turned back into his path on the edge of the penalty area. Lingard’s volley was a peach, still rising as it hit the net. “It was a beautiful goal,” Van Gaal said, and some way for a manager to potentially go out, a trophy in his hands.