Bruno Fernandes put Man Utd in control before he and everyone else in red went to sleep, it is what they do
BRUNO FERNANDES ended the FA Cup semi-final a man bemused as to what he had been a part of.
No doubt knowing it would be he would have to try and explain it all again.
Rarely have a team slunk away from this stadium with a feeling of embarrassment having just reach an FA Cup Final.
The next time Fernandes turns up at the home of football he wants to be heading up those metal steps and picking up silverware.
Nothing less will do for the captain of Manchester United.
But he knows they have not got a hope of gaining revenge on this cross town rivals Manchester City if this is what they are going to deliver.
The blame game will once again start as to how a United team totally in control of proceedings can give their own fans ‘squeaky bum time’.
That moment of nerves that football can give you like no other sport.
They managed it here.
Fernandes had controlled the affair and put United three up against Championship side Coventry.
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Then he and everyone else in red went to sleep.
It is what they do.
They simply cannot manage a game.
The captain, for all his incredible qualities cannot even orchestrate getting this result over the line in normal time.
Roy Keane once said he is ‘the opposite to what I want in a captain’.
Undoubtedly the United captain’s armband is something that can weight heavy on the arm.
Not while Keane was wearing it and was surrounded by leaders and world class talent.
No, it has been a lot tougher since the glory days and some who have worn it had not been up to it.
Quite what it was doing on the arm of both Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young is anyone’s guess.
Harry Magurie simply had to give it up because Erik ten Hag was not playing him.
So it was handed to Bruno last summer.
If United aren’t playing well the first finger pointing goes in the manager’s direction and then towards the captain.
So things fall apart on the pitch because of Fernandes it seems.
The problem is not just him.
It is a group of player who simply cannot play a complete football match.
They have not done it all season even in victory.
This is where they need a captain grabbing players by the scruff of their neck when he can see a tide turning.
The dark clouds of this experience will have followed United all the way home.
The Sky Blues were the heroes have no doubt.
Fernandes looked mildly embarrassed to be put before the cameras after a victory on penalties.
One in which he participated and planted home United’s key fourth to put them.
Watch him against Coventry for an hour and here was a man in totally control of the game and his surroundings.
Always in space and available, constantly clapping and cajoling, just making sure a potential banana skin on the way to a second successive FA Cup Final was not slipped on.
Slipped? They almost skidded all the way back down Wembley way.
They were booed at full-time.
Abandoned by a number of fans who left the ground unable to stomach extra-time.
When Rasmus Hojlund hammered home the winning penalty it was the United fans who vacated the ground quickly.
The Coventry fans stayed to hail their heroes.
The song glory, glory man Utd rang out to add to the feeling of unease amongst all their fans.
This was an embarrassment, plain and simple, for Ten Hag, For Fernandes, for every player in red.
After Fernandes finished his interview he turned around to the end that had housed the United fans to clap them in thanks.
There was barely anyone left.