ROY KEANE has laid into Manchester United’s “unforgivable” performance against Coventry City, admitting it was the kind of game that “keeps you awake at night.”
United almost suffered humiliation at Wembley last Sunday.
They led 3-0 in their FA Cup semi-final before Coventry battled back for 3-3.
The Championship side then looked to have won at the end of extra-time as they netted for 4-3.
And United’s players were left breathing a huge sigh of relief after the strike was controversially ruled out for offside by VAR.
Erik ten Hag’s men then scraped through the penalty shootout after missing their first spot-kick.
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And a monumental task awaits in the final as they take on rivals Man City — who won the same fixture in last year’s showpiece match.
United just about recovered from their Coventry nightmare by beating Sheffield United 4-2 in a much-needed comeback win.
But former captain Keane reckons his old side’s performance at Wembley is sure to continue hurting for the rest of the season.
And had they gone on to lose the match, it would have been “unforgivable” on all fronts.
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He told the Stick to Football podcast: “Would you ever recover from that? Seriously, as a player or a manager?
“You’re Man United, playing a Championship side and you’re 3-0 up. You’d never forgive yourself.
“There’s games we look back on now. We talk about bottle jobs and games we feel we should have won.
“These are the games that keep you awake at night. To be 3-0 up, you could never forgive yourself.”
Pal Gary Neville then said: “It would have been a public annihilation for four weeks.
“The stadiums would have been pretty toxic. The criticism and scrutiny on the manager would have been horrific. It’ll still be big but I was relieved.”
Pundits verdict on Ten Hag’s future
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.”
Keane added: “I think Ten Hag could have got into the players after the game, not target individuals but say: ‘That was unacceptable. This is Man United, we need to do better than that. If we’re 3-0 up, we need to see the game out’.”
Reflecting on Ten Hag’s future, Keane ended: “The one thing I’d say about him is he’s come out with a bit of fight. I don’t mind it. The man’s entitled to his opinion – but I look at it and go, I hope your team is fighting the way you are right now.
“It might be too little too late but it’s nice to see it. Your team didn’t show enough fight at the end when they were under the cosh.
“Do I think he’s a good coach? Yes. Do I think he’s running good coaching sessions? I’m sure, of course he is. But the other day, when it goes 3-1, 3-2, I want to see a bit of madness.
“I want to see a manager on the sidelines getting a grip of people. When people are making statements or going on Twitter, get a grip of the fellas – it’s unacceptable.
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“It’s not necessarily about throwing people under the bus. There’s more to being a coach. The great coaches and managers have personalities. And they wouldn’t let that happen.”
Roy Keane and Gary Neville were speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
