Erik ten Hag emphasizes the importance of Manchester United winning the FA Cup following a tumultuous semi-final victory against Coventry City.

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has dismissed claims that his team lacks the “right mentality” but emphasized the importance of winning the FA Cup this season.

United narrowly escaped defeat against Coventry City, a Championship side, after surrendering a 3-0 lead. They were fortunate to have an offside call go in their favor, preventing them from falling behind 4-3, and eventually secured a 4-2 victory on penalties.

United’s disappointing performances in the UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated in the group stages, and the Carabao Cup, where they were knocked out in the round-of-16, have left them in seventh place in the Premier League. They are currently level on points with Newcastle, as they strive to secure a spot in European competition for the next season.

Following the tense win against Coventry City, Ten Hag acknowledged the weaknesses in his team’s performance. He stated, “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.”

Despite mixed feelings about the result, Ten Hag highlighted the significance of reaching the final, noting that even Manchester United has only achieved this feat three times, while his team has done it twice in just two years. However, he emphasized the need to win the final.

Ten Hag also acknowledged that their local rivals, Manchester City, who they will face in the final, are “the best team in the world.” Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his team’s ability to come out on top. He said, “I want to win it. I’m sure we have a good chance to win this final, although we play the best team in the world. We do have a chance though. We showed that this season.”

Ten Hag concluded by stating that winning the FA Cup alone would not define their season as successful, as they aspire to achieve more.