United were cruising at 3-0 up against the Championship side with 20 minutes to go at Wembley on Sunday before their staggering collapse. The Premier League club had VAR to thank for escaping a humiliating 4-3 defeat in the final moments of extra time. Victor Torp's "winner" sent scores of United fans scurrying for the exits before they realised the goal had been ruled out for a marginal offside.
Even then there was still time for more drama, with Casemiro failing to convert United's first penalty in the shootout before they eventually prevailed 4-2. Ten Hag admitted his team "got away with it" but denied it was an embarrassment, preferring instead to focus on the achievement of reaching the final against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
"I see we can play at very high levels but in the same match we can also go very low," he said. "That's not explainable. It has to do with managing the game. "I have to teach my players, clearly. We have to do better in such occasions. "On several occasions we've let the result slip away but today we got away with it."
Harry Maguire, the only fit central defender at the club, said United showed "great character" to find a way past Coventry, managed by former Red Devils striker Mark Robins. But will Ten Hag be given the time he needs as he fends off a rising tide of criticism?
The Dutchman appeared to be on an upward curve in his first season in charge in 2022/23, ending a six-year trophy drought by lifting the League Cup and finishing third in the Premier League. But any lingering goodwill has all but disappeared as United limp toward the end of the campaign.
The beleaguered club, who are realistically out of the running to qualify for next season's Champions League, have not won any of
Read on besoccer.com