MANCHESTER, England — So it turns out it's Erik ten Hag. can Inspire your Manchester United team and lead them to victory against a formidable opponent.
Man United's 4-3 win in the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on Sunday was crucial at a crucial moment on a day when Old Trafford felt like an impregnable fortress during the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Many questions were answered about the director's ability to fulfill his role.
In a thrilling match that had everything in place, substitute Amad Diallo scored the winning goal in stoppage time after extra time, sealing a place in the FA Cup semi-finals against Coventry City in the EFL Championship next month. Amado, whose season was marred by injury, was sent off for a second yellow card after taking off his shirt in celebration, perhaps the most cruel red card of the year.
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Ten Hag's future as United manager remains uncertain, but there is no shortage of ironies in the fact that Coventry are managed by Mark Robins. Mark Robins is often credited with being the man who kept Alex Ferguson in the job by scoring the vital goal that gave United victory. It was in the 1990 FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest. Will Robins be able to once again control the fate of the United manager? Ten Granny probably hopes that doesn't happen.
It is already known that manager Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but this defeat means he will not be able to celebrate his quadruple as he exits Anfield.
It all depends on whether Ten Hag finds a way to turn a losing situation into a winning one with bold changes as United chase the game. Ten Hag then looked on alert in the final minutes of extra time, with Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes playing in a makeshift back three.
“United took a lot of risks and I really respect that,” Klopp said.
How much of this was accidental or intentional is up for debate, but Ten Hag at least influenced the outcome of the game. His first change, introducing Anthony in place of Rasmus Høylund, paid off when the Brazilian winger scored only his second goal of the season late in regulation time to make it 2-2.
By that stage, Ten Hud had introduced Christian Eriksen and Amad for Koby Mainou and Raphael Varane, replacing the two attacking players with more defensive players. It felt like a last-ditch move in a desperate situation, but his decision paid off.
United took the lead with a goal from Scott McTominay in the 10th minute, but saw their advantage reversed just before the break as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool a 2-1 lead at half-time. I made it.
There was an air of resignation at Old Trafford at that point. United have lost five times this season after taking the lead, but only Brentford (seven) have lost more when leading – and against one of the best teams in the world. He was at a disadvantage.
The day seemed more likely to be bad than good for United, but Ten Hag's players, whose apparent lack of cohesion and fighting spirit had been questioned all season, He evoked that quality to the last drop.
“The first 30 minutes were the best of the whole season,” Ten Hag said. “We acted as a team but there were gaps between the lines and we can't allow this against one of the best teams in Europe.
“They outplayed us. Then we made changes, took risks and our players were great. The attitude was great and we had a lot of belief that we were going to win this game.”
United rode their luck as Liverpool dominated and missed chances, but Anthony's 87th-minute equalizer gave United a boost. Victory without extra time was only denied by Marcus Rashford's spectacular error when he missed his shot from six yards out with his final kick in regulation.
United looked to have run out of energy and belief when Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool's lead to 3-2 in the 105th minute, but in a short crowd during the extra-time break, Ten Hag made a last-ditch effort. He rallied the players to push. He then looked for another break, this time bringing on attacking midfielder Mason Mount for defender Victor Lindelof.
United supporters have long urged Ten Hag to be bolder and take more risks, and he answered the call as time ran out against the club's biggest rivals.
The game now resembled a basketball game, with gaps from end to end and opportunities for both teams to score. And Rashford, whose lack of goals was contributing to Ten Hag's problems, made up for his earlier mistake by scoring the equalizer in the 112th minute with a low shot past goalkeeper Caoich Kelleher.
There was another uproar at Old Trafford, but just as it looked like the traditional draw was going to go to penalties, Amad converted a free-kick on the edge of United's penalty area to make it 4-3. He raced Alejandro Garnacho and, after an 80-yard sprint, fired a shot into the far corner to score.
Ferguson, who retired as manager in 2013, celebrated enthusiastically in the director's box, along with other United fans at the ground. The stadium hasn't seen such an opportunity since Ferguson took charge, and since new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe said he would “knock Manchester City and Liverpool off their perches”. Less than a month later, Ten Hag oversaw Liverpool's disappointing victory. quadruple.
It was a monumental victory for Ten Hag, but for United to truly make a comeback, and for Ten Hag to keep his job, the club must do more than just block a rival's signing. You need to enjoy your success.
This win was a sign of what's to come and it certainly doesn't hurt Ten Hag's chances of surviving at Old Trafford, despite calls for his sacking. But United's next challenge is to win the Premier League game at Brentford. Whether or not he can do that, apart from the emotion of winning against Liverpool, will really determine the manager's future.
“We're still fighting,” Ten Hag said. “For a long time in the season we haven't been anywhere near that level but we're putting pressure on Spurs and Villa. “Every game is a final and we've lost once in the final against Fulham. Our goals is the Champions League and a silver medal.”
Ten Hag may need to accomplish both to keep his job, but this victory will keep him alive.
