A double-digit point deficit, trailing behind the five current best Premier League teams; elimination from Europe already after the group stage of the Champions League; and a generally very poor impression during the entire season influenced the FA Cup to remain a lifeline for Manchester United and a season that will obviously go into oblivion very quickly.After the win over Liverpool, it seemed that the Red Devils’ path to the final was open and that the meeting with Coventry would be a routine warm-up for the final against the city rival, but once again, United managed to play below expectations, which were already very low. A three-goal lead was created at Wembley, but then Erik ten Hag’s side showed a different face, one that the Old Trafford club’s fans have (unfortunately) seen all too often this season.##EDITORS_CHOICE##The Premier League managed to drop a three-goal lead and give the audience an additional 30 minutes of football. During those half an hour, the Red Devils seemed completely disoriented, and it was only luck that they reached penalties where they prevented the sensation. Coventry players hit the crossbar and found the back of the net (the goal was disallowed for offside), but United eventually escaped the guillotine and remained in the race for the trophy. The performance shown by Ten Hag’s players did not inspire optimism before the final against Man City, and bitter club legends pointed out that even lifting a trophy will not overshadow the lackluster prior performances.”I don’t like what I see from this United team. It’s hard to like them, they just play on the fly. I don’t see leadership and character among the players. They were lucky in the end. In extra time it seemed that Coventry were a Premier League team, and United play in the Championship,” said Roy Keane.##NAJAVA_MECA_8045860##The former captain of Manchester United did not spare criticism.”Maguire said after the game that they showed great character, but I don’t see character in this group of players. I’m getting to the stage where I almost don’t like them. The qualities they have are clear, but when they have a game to win – they take their foot off the gas. Like that they are afraid to win. They need to show some courage”.At the beginning of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, the Scot also found himself in an unenviable situation in the FA Cup, but the current Coventry coach Mark Robbins brought him the ticket to salvation, with whose goal United eliminated Oldham. History repeating itself from the perspective of Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player, is not a realistic scenario. On the contrary.”Mark Robbins famously kept the Manchester United manager’s job, while I think the last result just cost the Manchester United strategist his job. I don’t see how Eric ten Hag will stay. I imagine the atmosphere in the dressing room was the most uncomfortable you’ve seen in a winning row after a game. I believe that the players did not know whether to celebrate or to sum up the mistakes.”Ten Hag’s team will take the last step in the FA Cup on May 25, when a replay of last year’s final is scheduled. The city rivals also fought for the trophy the previous season, and then the cup ended up in City’s possession with a 2-1 victory. The performances Manchester clubs are showing do not leave too many chances for a different outcome in a month, and Gary Neville also expressed pessimistic assessments.”I’m confused, I don’t know where we are on the road and what the idea is in terms of style of play. We still don’t know where we’re going. We had this situation 10, 12 years ago. The management will make a decision about the manager and the players at the end season, but they will never fire Ten Hag in the middle of the championship”.Brave Coventry come back from three goals down but Red Devils avoid disgrace via penalties!And while the former prominent Premier League footballers point out a number of problems, the Dutch strategist is satisfied with reaching the final itself.”Twice in the final in two years, that’s a good performance, with all the failures we’ve had this season. There are clearly mixed feelings, but it’s a great achievement to be in the FA Cup final twice in two years,” Ten Hag said, adding:”Of course, when you’re in control and you’re 3-0 up, you should routinely finish it off. The way we got to the final was not good.”United’s strategist then pointed out that the team showed character.”We can play at a very high level, but in the same match we can go down to a very low level. It’s inexplicable. It has to do with running the game, taking responsibility, organizing and making the right decisions. We got away against Coventry, but that’s not shame, but a huge achievement”.
