MANCHESTER UNITED fans think their players were too “ashamed” to celebrate after they stumbled into the FA Cup final.
The Red Devils had to resort to penalties to get past Coventry City after blowing a 3-0 lead in the last 20 minutes at Wembley.
United looked comfortable for most of the clash, but saw three late Coventry goals from Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright eradicate their hard work.
And it was almost curtains for the Erik ten Hag’s FA Cup efforts in extra-time when Victor Torp had his 121st minute winner chalked off by VAR after the tip of his toe was deemed to be offside.
The penalty shootout gave Man Utd a chance to spare their own blushes – and that’s exactly what they managed to do when Rasmus Hojlund converted his spot kick to set up a Manchester derby FA Cup final.
But fans of United are convinced the players were too embarrassed with the manner in which they had won to celebrate properly as they noticed only one star reeled away with Hojlund to celebrate his 12-yard decider.
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The Dane was certainly enthusiastic as he shared the moment with United’s travelling supporters, but video of the celebrations appeared to only show compatriot Christian Eriksen joining him in the euphoria.
Other stars were more subdued in their happiness and fans online certainly noticed the unusual reaction.
One wrote: “Why on earth has only Eriksen gone over to celebrate with Hojlund????”
While another added: “Kinda sad that nobody ran over to Hojlund there.”
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A third commented: “United players too ashamed to celebrate 😭😭 Hojlund turned around and saw nobody behind him I’m finished.”
And a fourth joked: “I was crying at that. 😭😭😭 He thought the whole team was coming to run to him and it was only Eriksen.”
Fans weren’t the only ones who thought that Ten Hag and Co were stand-offish after booking a return to play under the iconic arch in May.
Former Manchester United legend Roy Keane blasted the team on ITV Sport as he labelled them as “embarrassed” to win.
The retired midfielder said: “I think from the United players and the supporters they weren’t really going over the top with the celebrations.
“Because they know that they were quite lucky today. They had the game won at 3-0 and they are almost embarrassed to win in the end.”
He went on to add: “Every time I see this United team I don’t like what I see.
“They’re hard to like and they just play in moments.
“We keep talking about leadership and characters – I don’t see any of that in this United group.
“The team management when you’re 3-0 up… you don’t give a Championship team any sort of hope that they can get back in the game.
“But that’s what they do, they give up chances, they give up goals.
“We’ve seen it all season so I don’t know why we’re that surprised, but my goodness they rode their luck in the end.”
Regardless of their celebrations and the manner in which they achieved the win, Manchester United will be playing in the FA Cup final this season.
The Red Devils will face noisy neighbours City in a repeat of last year’s final as they look to paper over the cracks of another poor campaign with some silverware.
Pressure continues to mount on Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team still rumoured to be compiling a list of potential replacements for the Dutchman.
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For now Ten Hag will have to re-shift his focus, and the attention of his team, to the Premier League.
Man Utd host Sheffield United on Wednesday and can put the Blades to the sword by all-but consigning them back to the Championship with a win.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
