Football News

Erik ten Hag admits he is at a loss to explain why Manchester United's chaotic game management after they blew a three-goal lead in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.

United were cruising to a Wembley return on May 25 with 19 minutes to play against the Championship outfit, but a team featuring 10 internationals conspired to collapse and were dragged into extra-time.

It was the Sky Blues who threatened to steal it in the final moments of normal time and they thought they had won it in extra-time when Victor Torp scored in the 121st minute of the game, only for VAR to subsequently rule it out for the most marginal offside call against Haji Wright.

Ten Hag hits back at "crazy" speculation over United future after Coventry win

United players' reaction to beating Coventry shows Erik ten Hag has to go

That got United into a penalty shoot-out in which they prevailed, but the victory felt hollow and Ten Hag against saw the frailty in his team exposed. United conceded twice in 11 minutes to Newport County in round four, twice in two minutes to Liverpool in the quarter-final and twice in eight minutes to Coventry to spark their remarkable comeback.

Failing to see out leads has been a familiar problem for United this season and it's only two-and-a-half weeks since they lost a game at Chelsea that they were winning nine minutes into stoppage time. They have also conceded goals in groups this season and Ten Hag is still powerless to explain why it is happening.

"Yes. I see that similar, we can play on very high levels, but in the same match we can go to very low levels in the same game, that’s not explainable," he said. "Manage the game, take responsibility, take each other in responsibility and make right decisions.

Sky Blues