Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has praised his team for their victory via penalty shootout over Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday night.
The win took them to their second domestic final in a season of errors and unsure performances and the fans have taken to social media to express their satisfaction at the way things turned out.
Manchester United went into the game as underdogs thanks to their poor performances in the past few games. They were able to hold their opponents to a draw at the Wembley Stadium, however, setting up a penalty shootout that many rules them out of.
United would go on to win the shootout thanks to Brighton midfielder Solly March missing the only penalty in the shootout. It would be their first shootout win in ages and one that their season really needed.
The Dutch manager praised his side for standing up to their opponents and matching them pound for pound on the pitch in regulation time, before praising their tenacity in the shootout where none of them missed their kicks.
Speaking to journalists after the game at Wembley, ten Hag said: “It was a difficult game. I think it was a great battle for the fans, especially for the fans at home.
“It was a great final. In the end, the penalties were really good as well. It was so close and, of course, I am very happy with the performance of the team.
“They were so determined, so dominant to win this game and from the first moment, there was only one thing in mind. We have to win this game. So the willingness was really high.”
The former Ajax Amsterdam manager then talked about the Manchester derby in the final. It would be the first time that both sides would ever meet in the final of any domestic competition in the long history of English football. Erik ten Hag was confident in his sides ability to triumph over the Cityzens.
“We have proof that we can beat them but then we have to play the perfect game,” ten Hag said. “That was the most perfect game we played this season [winning the derby in January] but we have to go again. We know that but, first of all, we have to focus on different games because we have to be in the top four, to get into the Champions League for next season.”
They will now turn their attention to Tottenham Hotspur in midweek as they attempt to get their Premier League top four charge back on track.
