"The standard of this club is much higher than what we have been doing" - Manchester United superstar makes honest admission despite Coventry win
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes lamented the current standards at the club after they made their win against Coventry much harder than it should have been. The Red Devils squandered their 3-0 lead to almost lose the game against the Championship side but managed to win 4-3 on penalties.
Manchester nearly lost the semifinal tie through sheer carelessness, after goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes were cancelled out in a shocking 20-minute spell. The Robins drew level in regular time through goals from Ellis Simms, Callum O'Hare, and a Haji Wright penalty.
Coventry even had the ball in the back of the net in extra time, but where denied by the offside flag, leading the game into the penalties. The Erik ten Hag side finally prevailed over their opponents 4-3 in the penalties.
Manchester United made it to the final where they will face cross-town rivals Manchester City for a second consecutive FA Cup final. However, while the Blue half of Manchester looks assured and competent, the same can not be said for the Red Devils.
Speaking to the press after the match, Bruno Fernandes said:
“We’ll never be successful if we win [only] the FA Cup. The standard of this club is much higher than what we have been doing. We have to do better in the league, the League Cup and in Europe. When they [Coventry City] scored a goal [very late in extra time], we thought it might be offside but we couldn’t tell from the front. We put ourselves in a difficult position and should have killed it earlier, but we didn’t.”
Manchester United continue to have a poor season, with their embattled Dutch manager looking less likely to remain at his post next season. Manchester United are currently winless in regulation time in their last five games, and next face Sheffield United at Old Trafford.
Jamie Carragher feels Erik Ten Hag could leave Manchester United following Coventry result
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season after his side's embarrassing capitulation against Championship side Coventry.
While the Red Devils got the win on the day on penalties, the side being unable to see out a three-goal advantage against lower league opposition had Jamie Carragher believe the Dutch manager would be sacked at the end of the season.
Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Carragher said to the broadcaster after the match:
"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, It's just performance after performance and that is just like (gestures). I would imagine that dressing room is probably the most embarrassed dressing room you could probably remember of a team who has won a big game."
Caragher concluded:
"Can you imagine that dressing room when you go in they're all sat there looking each other, they don't know whether to celebrate, is it a big thing that you're in a cup final and got through? They're probably all just sat there looking at each other."