MICAH RICHARDS praised Manchester United’s players for showing their “class” with a gesture immediately after their dramatic FA Cup win over Coventry.
But the ex-Manchester City defender also questioned whether the act was “strategic” and for the cameras.
Man Utd spurned a three-goal lead in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, before eventually seeing off their Championship counterparts on penalties.
Rasmus Hojlund scored the winning spot kick to book their place in the final against Man City on May 25.
However, many of the Red Devils players did not bother celebrating with him after he converted his penalty, such was the manner of the win.
And centre-back Harry Maguire was seen going straight over to the Coventry players to console them.
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This was picked up by Richards who gave Man Utd props for the gesture.
However, he also subtly questioned their reason for doing so.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: “When they won the penalties there was only really Hojlund celebrating.
“They all just went back to the Coventry players and said how well they’ve done which showed a little bit of class, I would say.
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“Even if it was strategic. They know the cameras are going to be on them.”
Man Utd legend Roy Keane also addressed the players’ reactions to Hojlund’s penalty and insisted the reason for them not celebrating was because they were “embarrassed”.
He told ITV: “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.”
Not every United player showed their class however, with Antony being slammed for how he celebrated the shoot out win.
The Brazilian winger was spotted goading the Coventry players by cupping his ears to towards their distraught players.
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Keane went on to add: “Every time I see this United team I don’t like what I see. They are 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.
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“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.”
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Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future
Jamie Carragher – Sacked
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
“To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
Louis Saha – On the fence
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Alan Shearer – Sacked
“I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
