LONDON – Erik ten Hag admitted Manchester United “got away with it” after his team won an FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out against Coventry City on April 21 following an astonishing collapse during the match.
The English Premier League side scraped through at Wembley after the game ended 3-3 following extra time, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring the decisive spot kick.
United won 4-2 on penalties against the Championship side but only after throwing away a 3-0 lead during a chaotic second half.
Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes’ goals had given the Red Devils a comfortable lead before the hour mark, but then the Sky Blues hit back via Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright.
It is the latest chapter in a frenzied campaign for the club, who are in danger of missing out on a European place next season.
They have made a dangerous habit of tossing away winning positions over recent weeks, conceding an alarming number of chances. And they reverted to their bad habits against the 1987 FA Cup winners.
“We suffer (on) occasions, we let each other down and we let the result slip away. But today we got away with it,” said ten Hag.
But the Dutch manager insisted the result was still a positive achievement for the club and played down any notion of embarrassment at the manner of victory.
“I see the mistakes we make. We can’t look away from it. But it’s not an embarrassment. As I say, it’s a huge achievement,” he added, noting United had made the FA Cup final in back-to-back seasons.
“In the last 20 years, United were five times in the final. Now we are two times in two years. So it’s a huge achievement.
“But, of course, when you are so in control in the game, and you’re so dominating the game and 3-0 up, and then we should bring it over the finish and the way we did was not good.”
The under-pressure United boss praised his side’s character in the shoot-out as a “good sign”, but conceded their collapse during the match was “completely unnecessary”.
Asked about morale in the dressing room, ten Hag said there were “mixed feelings”.
“They are also disappointed,” he added, referring to the way United allowed Coventry back into the match.
Said his captain Fernandes: “The standard of this club is much higher than what we have been doing... It sums up our season – we had great control and played well for 60 minutes but then we conceded out of nothing.”
Ten Hag said his players would need to play for their places in May’s final at Wembley against arch-rivals Manchester City, who beat Chelsea on April 20 in the other semi-final.
“The players should prove that they earn to play in the final and to give performances in the coming weeks,” he said, as United battle to finish high enough in the Premier League table to qualify for Europe next season.
Coventry manager and former United striker Mark Robins, meanwhile, said he was proud of his players.
Victor Torp’s potential winner 20 seconds from the end of extra time was disallowed by the video assistant referee, with Wright adjudged to have been centimetres offside before playing the ball across the face of goal.
Said Robins: “Bitterly disappointed, but I’m proud as well. Someone said to me, I don’t think any team have been as close to a final without getting there. We deserved to go through. We were 20 seconds away and a toenail offside, it’s ridiculous.” AFP, REUTERS
