Ten Hag hails 'huge achievement' of reaching back-to-back FA Cup finals

Erik ten Hag claimed that stumbling into the FA Cup Final was a ‘huge achievement’ for Manchester United even though they were nearly humiliated by Coventry.

After Coventry fought back from 3-0 down to take the semi-final into extra-time, substitute Victor Torp thought he had won it – only for Wright, who had supplied the cross, to be ruled offside by the most marginal of VAR calls.

United then won the shoot-out to save some face although they will need to improve greatly to have a chance of beating Manchester City, in a repeat of last season’s Final.

‘We have reached two finals in two years and that is a huge achievement,’ insisted Ten Hag, whose position is under heavy scrutiny. ‘I see the mistakes we make. You can’t avoid them. But it’s not an embarrassment, it’s a huge achievement.

‘We can play at very high levels but in same match we can go to very low levels and it’s not explainable. It’s about game management, responsibility and decision making.

‘We have to do better in these occasions. On several occasions like this we let the result slip away but today we got away with it. I don't think heads dropped but we had many setbacks and maybe our reaction is human but it's not acceptable. When you are in control you should win easily.

‘We can't say this group doesn't have the right mentality because they showed character today, but in the final part there was a lack of discipline. This season has had many ups but also many downs.

‘Winning the FA Cup doesn't make the season successful. We want to win more. I have mixed feelings and there are mixed feelings in the dressing room.

‘First you have to put yourself in a winning position but then you have to take it over the line. In these moments we are making mistakes and not