Erik ten Hag was more than displeased with the media with their reaction to Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry City on Sunday.
Man United coughed up a 3-0 lead, with Coventry scoring three in a row, late in the second half to push the game to extra time. United had their chances to bury the game in extra time, with a fantastic opportunity from Bruno Fernandes being denied by the cross bar.
The Championship side would too, have their chances. Just before the end of second half extra time, they thought they'd won the game with a Victor Torp goal, only for it to be ruled off by VAR for offside.
The Red Devils would go on to claim a 4-2 win on penalties to see them through to the FA Cup final v Manchester City for the second year running.
Many fans and pundits like Roy Keane were left disappointed with Manchester United's performance believing the celebrations in the after math to be disproportionate to their poor second half performance.
However in the post match press conference, Erik ten Hag was surprisingly positive about his team's performance v Coventry, who are eighth in the Championship. Asked if the result was an embarrassment, Ten Hag pushed back, saying:
I can't say that word and because at the end of the day it's about the achievement. Yeah, I see the mistakes we make. We can't look away from it but it's not an embarrassment.
It's as I said it's a huge achievement. Even the big team for United from a decade ago they only reached the final three times we are now two times in two years you know that’s a good performance
"It's not an embarrassment, it's an achievement!" 💬
Erik Ten Hag on Manchester United surviving a huge scare to beat Coventry and reach the FA Cup final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dDRnzNJi3J— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 21, 2024
Manchester United manager claps back at reporters
In a press conference today one reporter highlighted that many were left deflated by the win, feeling as if United had lost the game, rather than reach an FA Cup final. When asked if he could understand the feeling, given how the game went ten Hag was more than displeased with the reporter.
"No, absolutely not. One (of you) asked 'Is it embarrassing? ' No, the reactions from you was embarrassing."
When asked why he had said that, ten Hag continued by stating:
Football is about results, and we made it to the final and we deserved it. Not only by this game but also the other games. For 20 minutes we lost control, we also had bad luck, 3-2, 3-3.We were very lucky in the end the penalties were very good.
We made it to the final, and that is a huge achievement, twice in two years is magnificent. For me as a manager four Cup finals in four years so the comments are a disgrace.
"The reactions from YOU was embarrassing."
Erik ten Hag addresses the comments about Man Utd's performance against Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday... 😤 pic.twitter.com/enC7McSBpO— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 23, 2024
It's true that Manchester United let Coventry back into the game but there is truth to the words that football is about results and at the end of the day, it is Manchester Untied who'll go through to the FA Cup final. That being said a final quarter like that of Sunday's game will not be good enough from ten Hags men when they face their city rivals on the 25th of May.
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