ROY KEANE completely disagreed with Harry Maguire’s claim that Manchester United showed “great character” in their dramatic victory over Coventry City.
His old team the Red Devils narrowly avoided disaster as they beat the Sky Blues on penalties to set-up a showdown with Man City in the FA Cup Final.
But that was only after the Championship side fought back from 3-0 down to take it to extra-time and then having a late strike ruled out for offside to deny them a famous triumph.
United looked to be cruising towards a repeat of last year’s final thanks to goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.
Ellis Simms pulled one back on 71 minutes before Callum O’Hare set-up a nervy finish with eleven left.
Haji Wright then kept his nerve in stoppage time to score from the spot to send it to extra time.
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Victor Torp’s 120th-minute strike was disallowed due to an offside in the build-up as United survived by the skin of their teeth – meaning that the tie would need to be settled by penalties.
Casemiro stepped up first but had his effort saved before Wright slotted home to give Coventry the lead.
Diogo Dalot made no mistake and then Torp smashed it into the top corner, then Christian Eriksen drilled it in low with United’s third – but this time Andre Onana dived to his right to keep out O’Hare’s effort.
Captain Fernandes sent the goalie the wrong way to put United ahead, then Ben Sheaf fired way over the crossbar.
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That left Rasmus Hojlund with the job of stepping up to win it, and the Dane sent the goalie the opposite way as he raced off in celebration – although Antony infuriated others with his reaction to the win.
Following the game, goalscorer Maguire said: “We found a way.
“We started the game really well and then conceded a sloppy goal. We were unfortunate to concede the second goal.
“I think the penalty was so hard but all credit to Coventry. They made it tough for us in the second half of extra time.
“It sums up our season, we had great control and played well for 60 minutes but then we conceded out of nothing.
“Then I don’t know, it seems like the world wanted Coventry to go on and do it. We showed great character to stick with it and it was important to win the shootout.”
But the non-nonsense Keane was having none of that afterwards as he spoke to his fellow pundits in the ITV studio.
The Irishman said: “We’re having the same conversation every week with Man United, you don’t know what you’re going to get.
All they do is play in moments. They concede so many chances.
“You always say you need a bit of luck. Maguire said they showed good character, I don’t see character in this group of players.
“I’m looking at the goalkeeper, wasting time. Just get on with the game. Show some courage.
“Huge problems for Man United going forward but they got the job done.”
Keane also said: “Maguire got interviewed at the end there and said they showed great character, I don’t see character in this group of players, I really don’t.
“It’s getting to the stage that I’m almost disliking them. I see a group with bad habits, they were almost frightened to win the game.
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“There’s huge problems for Manchester United going forward but they got the job done.
“In extra-time Coventry looked like a Premier League team and Manchester United looked like a Championship side.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
