Coventry - FA Cup semi final

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Coventry City 3 v 3 Manchester United
United win 4-2 on penalties

Manchester United are through to their 22nd FA Cup final, a trophy the reds have won on 12 occasions. This should be something to celebrate, yet the mood around the United camp and supporter base is distinctly flat.

United cruised to a 3-0 lead against Coventry thanks to goals from McTominay, Maguire and Fernandes. They were comfortably strolling, with Coventry barely troubling Onana, especially in the first half. With one eye on Wednesday nights game against Sheffield United, Erik Ten Hag understandably took off his young starlets - Garnacho and Mainoo. 

Garancho didn’t look pleased. He probably fancied a goal and still looked full of running. After all, United hadn't exactly needed to play in fifth gear. The replacements, Antony and Eriksen, simply aren’t in the same class as the youngsters. Antony has been an incredible waste of money that United simply won’t ever get close to recouping. Eriksen has been an absolutely top class footballer, but his legs are gone and he has indicated he isn't happy with his lack of appearances. He could still do a job for someone, especially in Spain or Italy. 

Coventry, finally, went for it. And oh, what a surprise, United couldn’t defend. Quite why Coventry had waited so long to run at a central defence of Maguire and Casemiro was beyond me? 

The Midlands club looked full of energy and scored 2 goals within 10-minutes. They may have got a little bit of luck, but they deserved it. Then, yet again, United conceded a late penalty in injury time and Coventry scored to take it to extra-time.

Momentum was with Coventry and in dramatic (United-esque) fashion they scored in the last minute of extra-time to go through to the final. Or so they thought, VAR ruled the goal offside. To the naked eye, when played in real time or slow motion, it did look offside. Yet when the frame was frozen and the lines were drawn, it was extremely close.

Coventry would have deserved what would have been a famous and historic victory. Erik Ten Hag would have either had to resign immediately, or wait to be sacked in the morning.

Penalties it was. Casemiro stepped up first, the most experienced man on the pitch and subsequently hit a woeful penalty straight down the middle that was easily saved.

Thankfully Onana saved one, Coventry missed another and United’s remaining penalties were good. United were through, but the celebrations were muted. 

Maguire showed true leadership to immediately shake hands with the Coventry players, a few trotted over to celebrate with Hojlund who hit the winner, Antony cupped his ears - showing what a disgraceful player he is. He neither has the quality or the values to play for United. Yet we spent £85 million on this embarrassment of a football player and I am sure he gets a handsome wage. Maybe we can stick him out on loan somewhere, just get him away from the club and the team.

Coventry took all the plaudits, remaining on the field to applaud their fans and receive the acclaim for their attitude and performance. 

United slunked off to the dressing room. What on earth will have been said in there? By the manager? By the players? What will the mood be like at training this morning? 

Next up is Sheffield United and Burnley at Old Trafford. The bottom 2 clubs in the league will fancy their chances, they will smell blood, they will give it a go. Do you know what? On current form, with the mood low, they will have a chance.

Rashford and McTominay went off injured and limped away from Wembley. Rashford’s attitude, work-rate and performances have been disgraceful and I’m sure if this squad was stronger then he would have been dropped a long time ago. 

Diallo, who came on as a sub, looked full of energy and skill. I’d start him and Garnacho with Hojlund. Ten Hag will have to cobbled a side together, maybe he should just stick in the youngsters - he literally has nothing to lose now.

BBC report

The Guardian match report



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