The manager of Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, sees the dramatic 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final triumph over their arch-rivals Liverpool as a potential turning point in their season.
Despite trailing late in regular time and once more in extra time, Manchester United secured a thrilling victory, with Amad Diallo’s 121st-minute goal sealing the win.
This result sustains United’s aspirations of claiming silverware this season. Additionally, with their primary competitors for a Champions League position, Tottenham and Aston Villa, both faltering, Ten Hag perceives the triumph as pivotal, especially considering the jubilant reaction from the home fans at the final whistle.
“This could be that moment,” said Ten Hag. “It can give the team the belief and energy to do amazing things. When you beat Liverpool you can beat any opponent.”
Ten Hag expressed his belief that his team’s performance in the first half-hour was their strongest of the season.
However, things seemed dire when Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah both found the net in the latter stages of the opening period, giving the visitors the upper hand.
It was substitute Antony who ultimately salvaged the situation three minutes from time. Then, after Harvey Elliott had once again put Liverpool in the lead, Marcus Rashford leveled the score eight minutes before the end of extra time. Finally, Diallo sealed the victory with a breakaway goal to secure a Wembley semi-final clash with Championship side Coventry, led by former United FA Cup hero Mark Robins.
For Ten Hag, this conclusion disproved any doubts about his team’s character.
“I don’t understand why,” he said. “They are great characters and we see the determination again.
“This season we have had so many setbacks and every time we have had to adapt. Yesterday, Jonny Evans dropped out at the last minute and then we have to bring in a player (Aaron Wan-Bissaka) who didn’t play for four or five weeks and had only one or two training sessions.
“But we can deal better with such situations than we did in the autumn when it was difficult.
“I am very proud of the run we are in but we still have to catch up. I am happy Spurs lost and Villa dropped points. We are happy to be in the semi-final but we have to keep going.”
For Diallo, it was his best day in a United shirt.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager when the club paid £19m for the Ivory Coast international in 2021.
He has since had loan spells at Rangers and with Sunderland, where he won last season’s young player of the year award.
But injury has disrupted his progress this season and Sunday’s substitute appearance was only his fourth of the entire campaign.
“I am so happy for him,” said Ten Hag. “He is one of the players who had huge setbacks.
“He has returned knowing there is lot of competition in his position and he doesn’t always get the time he deserves. But he shows his contribution by coming on and scoring a goal.
“We know he can do it. He is in a problematic situation but he is fighting.”