Ian Wright left perplexed by 2 Erik ten Hag substitutions in Manchester United's penalty shootout win over Coventry
Arsenal great Ian Wright was left in shock at two substitutions made by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in their penalty shootout win over Coventry. The Red Devils beat the Championship side in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday, April 21.
United went three goals up, dominating the proceedings, only to end up losing the entire lead within 20 minutes. Scott McTominay (23') scored early on to put the match in the favor of the Premier League giants. A Harry Maguire header (45+1') doubled the score on the cusp of half-time. Bruno Fernandes (58') scored in the second half to make it three, and they seemed set to win the game.
However, Coventry mounted a comeback, with Ellis Simms scoring their opener in the 71st minute. Eight minutes later, Callum O'Hare scored the second. Then, a late penalty saw Haji Wright bury the ball in the back of the net from 12 yards to put the score at 3-3.
Before the comeback began in earnest, though, Erik ten Hag made a number of substitutions, taking off Alejandro Garnacho for Antony and Kobbie Mainoo for Christian Eriksen. This didn't sit well with Ian Wright, who spoke on ITV Sports (via Manchester Evening News):
"Coventry, sitting here among fans at 3-0 down, they never stopped and they kept going. Like Roy [Keane] mentioned with the United team and the way they played, they took off [Kobbie] Mainoo which I was really confused with. Same with [Alejandro] Garnacho too, I'd have kept him on."
Wright continued:
"It's just the way it just descended into chaos and then you could just see all of a sudden Coventry feeling 'we can get something here' and starting to play. [Callum] O'Hare got into the game more and Simms got into the game more. The sub came on... they had a go at United and they kind of crumbled away."
Ten Hag removed Antony with Manchester United leading 3-0 and removed Mainoo after it became 3-1.
Erik ten Hag told he could lose his job at Manchester United by Liverpool legend
Ten Hag managed to lead Manchester United to a very slight win over Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final, as they ended up winning on penalties. The tier-two club had a comeback late in the second half to put the score at 3-3. They could have won the match in extra time, but their goal was canceled for offside.
It was a rather lackluster win for Manchester United, and now, Jamie Carragher believes Ten Hag won't last till after the summer in the Old Trafford dugout. The Liverpool legend told Sky Sports (via Mirror):
"We were watching at the end there and Mark Robins famously kept a Man United manager in a job, I think that result today has just cost a Man United manager his job. I don't see how he stays, I don't."
Either way, Ten Hag has led Manchester United to the final of the FA Cup, where they will face Manchester City. They will hope to win that clash against all odds, having lost the fixture 2-1 last season.