Having been in attendance at Wembley yesterday, Rio Ferdinand went through the whirlwind of emotions first-hand alongside Manchester United fans.
The Reds actually looked like a put-together team in the first half, registering a two-goal lead before the interval thanks to Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire, while also keeping Coventry City’s spirited attackers at bay.
However, in true United fashion, the tide turned remarkably in the closing 20 minutes of the match and despite leading 3-0 in the 71st minute, Erik ten Hag’s men went on to concede three goals.
Coventry’s emphatic turnaround came without Alejandro Garnacho on the pitch after he was replaced in the 66th minute for Antony – a decision which seemingly didn’t sit too well with the Argentine, as he was spotted shaking his head in response to his number appearing on the board.
You can’t really wonder why, either. Garnacho, 19, has outperformed his £86 million counterpart throughout the entirety of the season thus far and as expected, Antony offered nothing when he entered the fold.
There’s also more to it than that. In numerous matches since February, United have gone on to concede at least one goal in each of the games in which Garnacho has been substituted early.
Alejandro Garnacho shook his head in apparent disappointment as he was subbed off with Man United winning 3-0 in the 66th minute.
United have gone on to lose to Chelsea, draw to Liverpool, and have just conceded three goals to Coventry after he was subbed.
(h/t @RobDawsonESPN) pic.twitter.com/Kkv5mfE5ba
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 21, 2024
Ferdinand’s instant reaction
Ferdinand had his say on the night’s affairs – as well as the teenager’s early exit – in his latest instalment of FIVE.
“I was there. I was in a bad way during that game, 3-1, 3-2 and then 3-3, and then they got the winner and VAR saved us,” the former Red said of the semi-final tie while leaving the stadium.
“It saved us. We feel lucky man, but that’s the way it is. We get to the final and hopefully, we win now.
“Garnacho can’t be coming off of the pitch, Kobbie Mainoo coming off early – you’ve got young, hungry guys.”
SACK Ten Hag immediately, push Anthony out the door WITH him.
But Rio…you’ve also got young hungry guys who need to be fit and fresh for the next two upcoming PL games that happen in quick succession. At 3 nil with 24 minutes left against a team who’ve looked no better than they should, the substitutions represented sensible in-game management, with a view towards our next fixtures. You lose either Garnacho or Mainoo to injury at 3 nil in the 75th minute, then what? Erik’s head on a plate is what. What happened from the 71st minute onwards was bizarre, (the magic of the cup?) but it wasn’t due to Garnacho and Mainoo coming off (although Antony was poor and showed zero class with his “celebrations”).
At Wembley today you could argue that VAR has done for EtH what Mark Robins did for Fergie.
Football is bonkers, especially where Utd are concerned – and we can beat City in the final – but history does have a habit of repeating itself at Old Trafford, and sacking Dutch managers as they lift the FA Cup isn’t exactly a novelty.
You were doing well, Dunk, until your last sentence: beat the Sheik’s 11 in the Final? Nope, even if we scored a couple, it’s been proved time and time again that there is zilch ability to see out a match.
But let’s not lose sight of the fact that Coventry were on level terms thanks to a deflection and a ridiculous penalty decision. Ball striking upper arm should not be classed the same as deliberate hand-ball, we can all imagine the uproar if we’d won 4-2 with a penalty like that. Bruno Penandes, Ref. bottled it, etc.
Still think ETH has to go, mind, FA Cup win wasn’t enough to counter the lousy football under Van Gaal, and it won’t save ETH even if by some miracle we did win the Final. Keeping Garnacho on the pitch can only help that ambition…