I’ve covered Man Utd for 25 years – that win over Coventry was this sorry club’s biggest ever embarrassment
BOB, who runs the seniors’ team down my golf club, was still beaming with pride 24 hours on.
Talking about how well his club had represented themselves, the heart and fight they had showed, the way they left every fan holding their heads up high.
Bob is a Coventry fan.
There were no such sentiments among those of a red persuasion down Northenden GC as the G&Ts provided medicine to numb the pain of embarrassment.
Because that is what it was for Manchester United supporters, an embarrassment, one that will be felt for some time. In my 25 years covering the club, this was the biggest.
Forget a 6-1 defeat at home to Manchester City, an aberration, this was the denouement of a long and sorry chapter in the club’s history.
Fans briefly celebrated Rasmus Hojlund’s winning penalty in the shootout only because they felt they should.
There was no such delight on the pitch, apart from the penalty taker and that clown Antony who had come on with the side well in control at 3-0.
It was no coincidence they went into reverse when he imparted his questionable attributes on proceedings.
Indeed his cupping of the ears to the Coventry players when Hojlund landed that final cruel blow, only added to the feelings of unease.
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If the Brazilian thinks that act of bad sportsmanship will endear him to the faithful, who have long since put him top of the pile of big-money flops, then wait until his name is read out on Wednesday when Sheffield United are the visitors.
They had already had to witness Andre Onana celebrating and trying to rev the fans up just because a marginal VAR decision had saved them.
Goodness knows what this bloke must do when he wins a hand of snap.
No, there was no joy in this, surrendering against Championship opposition.
Genuinely, one fan I spoke to even wished the Cov extra-time goal had stood as a lesson to their abject players.
Afterwards on the Tube, there was the bizarre sight of both sets of fans looking down.
This was “not an embarrassment but a great achievement” claimed Erik ten Hag as United booked a second successive FA Cup final berth.
Goodness knows what the score will be if the real Manchester City turn up.
The sight of the Red Devils players floored after Victor Torp thought he had struck the last-gasp winner will stick in the mind.
Hojlund celebrating, while Antony cupped his ears and the United fans legging it down Wembley Way to avoid witnessing further cringe-worthy scenes, will not. Embarrassing, just embarrassing.