United took a giant step towards next month’s final as Scott McTominay, Maguire and Bruno Fernandes netted to give Ten Hag’s men an imperious three-goal advantage inside an hour at Wembley.
But Coventry – managed by former United striker Mark Robins – mounted a stunning comeback and threatened to pull off one of the great cup upsets, with Ellis Simms and Callum O’Hare beating Andre Onana before Haji Wright converted from the spot to force extra-time.
The Championship outfit, huge underdogs heading into the semi-final, appeared to have won it in the dying moments of extra-time when Victor Torp struck to send Coventry’s support into raptures, only for VAR to disallow the goal for offside.
The Red Devils went on to set up a final against holders Manchester City – a repeat of last year’s showpiece – after prevailing on penalties and United winger Antony was pictured cupping his ears and taunting Coventry’s dejected players in the immediate aftermath of the shootout.
Former club captain Maguire, meanwhile, was far more dignified as United escaped defeat by the skin of their teeth and the England defender has explained his reaction in an interview with Sky Sports.
‘It was a really strange mix of emotions throughout the game,’ Maguire said.
‘We started the game so well, we were so comfortable in the game all the way up to 70 minutes really and then the goal comes from nowhere. It was a soft goal to give away on our behalf, to be that open when we’re 3-0 up with 20 minutes to play is far too naive from ourselves.
‘In the couple of hours from the start of the game to the end of the game, the amount of emotion you went through and in the end you’re probably just feeling a little bit of relief.
‘And yeah, I don’t think we needed to celebrate too hard, we let ourselves down in the last 20 minutes of normal time and to play for this club involves bringing huge responsibility and we didn’t take responsibility in those last 20 minutes of the game so yeah, we were disappointed on that behalf.’
The centre-back claims United players are ‘disappointed’ with the way they ‘acted’ at Wembley after surrendering a three-goal lead and capitulating in such spectacular fashion.
‘Coming into training the next day, you’re in another final, an FA Cup final,’ Maguire added.
‘It’s what you dream of playing in when you’re a young boy so the boys are really happy we’ve made it to the cup final.
‘We’ve had a good run along the way, obviously beating our rivals Liverpool in the quarter-finals and then going to Wembley, being comfortable for that first 70 minutes.
‘But like I said, the way the game ended, we were disappointed with the way that we acted and we played in that last 20 minutes and then even in extra-time.
‘We went into extra-time, we remained focused, we got our heads back, but we didn’t play to a level that we should have so on that behalf, yeah, it was disappointing.’
Facing the media ahead of United’s return to Premier League action versus lowly Sheffield United, Ten Hag defended Antony’s controversial celebration and insisted the Brazilian had been ‘provoked’.
‘Did you see the reaction of Harry Maguire? He was provoked, that’s why this was a reaction of that, you haven’t seen the provocation, only the reaction. But he should not do it,’ the Dutchman told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
‘I have seen Harry Maguire straight after and others, we should acknowledge the performance of Coventry coming to that final and the comeback we are 70 mins totally dominating the game by far and 3-0 must have been the game is closed but the return from their side was very good.’
According to Ten Hag, the media fallout from United’s win has been an ’embarrassment’ and a ‘disgrace’.
Asked whether he understood the reaction in the media to United’s display, he replied: ‘No, absolutely not. Is it embarrassing? No, the reactions from you [the media] was embarrassing. It is, the comments.
‘Top football is about results and we made it to final. We deserved it, not only by this game but also the other games.
‘We lost control for 20 minutes, also we had bad luck at 3-2, 3-3. We were very lucky in the end…
‘Penalties was very good and we made it through to the final and that is a huge achievement.
‘Twice in two years, that’s magnificent. For me, as a manager, four cup finals in four years so the comments are a disgrace.’
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