Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag masterminded a 3-1 FA Cup win over Fulham on Sunday.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has spoken out after his side’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Fulham on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes bagged a brace and Marcel Sabitzer struck on a chaotic afternoon at Old Trafford. The Cottagers seemed to lose their heads during the game, with Willian, Aleksandar Mitrovic and manager Marco Silva all seeing red within a matter of seconds in the second half.
Mitrovic put Fulham ahead in the 50th minute, with the Serbia international blasting past David De Gea from close range. However, the tide of the contest then turned after a handball from Willian inside the box.
The Brazil international saw red, along with manager Silva, while Mitrovic was dismissed after appearing to push referee Chris Kavanagh.
Fernandes then converted from the penalty spot, sparking wild celebrations in the home end. And Sabitzer proceeded to put the Red Devils ahead, with Fernandes scoring his second of the game in the closing stages to make the result safe.
Ten Hag was asked about the Fulham red cards after the game, but refused to elaborate by saying: “I don’t want to emphasise that. It was a great counter-attack but I think everyone saw it was handball.
“We showed great character. Every time this team comes out, they show the personality and the determination needed. Fulham are a good team and you have to be good to overcome them.
“I think we had a good first half. We had great moments in the attacking transition and we should have been two or three goals up.”
And, when quizzed about his side facing Brighton in the semi-finals, he added: “The next [FA Cup] game is a long way away. The players will go away on the international break while we analyse the recent period. Then it’s about Newcastle, Brentford and Everton.”
Fulham boss Silva, meanwhile, admitted Mitrovic shouldn’t have pushed referee Chris Kavanagh as tempers boiled over.
“In that moment he has to control his emotions much more like all of us should,” he said. “You have to keep the emotional balance of course. Sometimes it is not easy but it is our obligation to do it.
“It’s been a tough season in some moments for us. We know that we are Fulham, we don’t have the same importance in football as some others but it’s difficult for us to deal with some situation.”
He also insisted Fulham deserved a penalty, too. “You need to talk about the three [possible] penalties because you are just talking about one moment,” he snapped. “You want to talk about the other moments in the box? Why don’t you ask me about the other two moments as well?
United goalscorer Sabitzer also spoke after the game. And, when quizzed on the penalty decision, the United star said: “Haven’t seen it. The referee said it so we go with it. I’m focused on the game. I’ve seen it. It was easier for us.
“We had to be focused on the game and the result.” And, on scoring his first goal for the club, the Bayern Munich loanee stated: “Massive. I’m so happy. An important one. I’m very, very happy now.”
United will now face Brighton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. They last won the competition back in 2016, when Louis van Gaal was manager. And victory over Brighton would see them through to a second final this season, having won the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign.
Man Utd make intriguing appointment as Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe battle it out
Man Utd make intriguing appointment as Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe battle it out
Manchester United have appointed the same architects who built Tottenham’s stadium as they consider what to do with Old Trafford, according to reports. Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are both showing takeover interest in the club. And whoever ends up ousting the Glazers will have to spend big on the facilities, particularly when it comes to their grand arena
The north London giants moved into their home, having left White Hart Lane, back in 2019 – proceeding to beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in their opening fixture.
And that suggests United aren’t entirely ruling out the possibility of moving away from Old Trafford and starting from scratch.
The Glazers have allowed the arena to fall into a state of dilapidation in recent years, perhaps reflecting the club’s struggles on the pitch over the past decade.
But with the Glazers open to selling up, after 18 controversial years in charge, it appears that decision will be taken by whoever comes in next.
Sheikh Jassim is one candidate interested in buying United.
Members of his entourage arrived in Manchester for talks on Thursday, with the discussions reportedly ‘positive’ behind the scenes.
Ratcliffe is also interested, with the INEOS chief long an admirer of the club.
The British billionaire previously missed out on purchasing Chelsea last year, with Todd Boehly winning that battle instead.
Yet Ratcliffe is hoping that, by attending talks on Friday in person, he’ll be able to get an edge when it comes to this particular fight.
Two other parties, believed to be from the United States, are also in the mix.
And things should become clearer in the coming days, with the Glazers described as ‘determined sellers’ at present.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, former United star Gary Neville backed plans to demolish Old Trafford and build a new ‘super stadium’ instead.
“There is a story emerging today from Old Trafford that they might be looking to rebuild the entire stadium and I have just been asked what I think of it,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.
“I actually think that it would be the right move.
“I think that by the time that they have spent money on Old Trafford, the existing one, then I think you would probably be better off building a brand new, super stadium.
“I do think that Manchester United should always be at the forefront of stadiums, best facilities and they have fallen behind.”
Jamie Carragher then quizzed Neville if he would back the Glazers if they built a new stadium
Responding to that question, the Red Devils icon added: “No, not particularly. I do think it’s time for them to sell. I do think that they’ve, to be fair, overstayed their welcome.
“I think the fact that they said they would engage with the fans three, four, five months ago and they haven’t done since is not good enough. I think it would be a breath of fresh air.
“But I do think the stadium needs redevelopment. It’s fallen behind many other stadiums, not just in this country, but obviously in Europe and I do think they need to rebuild that stadium.”