COVENTRY PITY

United won the match but brave Sky Blues won hearts of 5 the nation 

- JOHN CROSS

AFTER a week of debating the tradition and value of the FA Cup, it delivered one of the all-time great semi-finals.

And we did not even need a replay because Coventry's fightback from 3-0 down, extra-time drama and then a penalty shootout produced a classic for the ages.

There was more glory in defeat than victory as Coventry will be remembered as heroes while it all felt horribly hollow for Manchester United.

The Reds set up a repeat of last year's final back at Wembley next month and, on this evidence, Manchester City will be rubbing their hands with glee. You wait 153 years for an all-Manchester final and two come along at once.

But the harsh reality is that it probably only strengthened the belief that Erik ten Hag will be gone this summer because this was so far removed from United's best traditions in the FA Cup.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel and Avram Glazer sat up in the stands and the writing must be on the wall because the way United collapsed from being 3-0 up with less than 20 minutes left to nearly blowing it in injury time was an embarrassment.

Coventry were magnificent. As soon as they got one back, you were left wondering: they couldn't, could they? That is a sorry reflection of United under Ten Hag.