'We got away with it' - 'embarrassment' could 'cost Ten Hag job'

[CharlieH]

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag admitted his side 'got away with it' to reach the FA Cup final.

But he denied the manner of their penalty shootout victory against Championship side Coventry was an embarrassment.

 

United were 3-0 up and cruising with 20 minutes left.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, they conspired to throw away a winning position, ended up being taken to extra time, where they only avoided defeat when Victor Torp's last-gasp effort was ruled out for offside by video assistant referee Peter Bankes.

United eventually triumphed on penalties. However, after wasting stoppage-time leads to draw with Brentford and lose to Chelsea in the Premier League recently, it was another day that offered more questions than answers about Ten Hag and his players.

"We can play on very high levels, but we can go to very low levels in the same game," said Ten Hag. "That's not explainable.

"I have to teach my players, clear. We have to do better on such occasions. On several occasions, we let each other down. Today we got away with it."

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Brazilian wideman Antony cupped his ears at the Coventry fans at the end, even though United were 3-0 up when he replaced Alejandro Garnacho.

However, it was noticeable that the Coventry players remained on the pitch longer at the end to take the acclaim of their fans, with United heading to the dressing room rather sheepishly.

Ten Hag rejected the idea that they day had been an embarrassment for his expensively assembled squad, saying that the near-capitulation should not be used to judge his own tenure as manager.

 

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