According to the story, Mark Robins was the one who rescued Alex Ferguson’s career as manager of Manchester United by scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest in 1990. This victory led United to win the trophy at Wembley and relieved the pressure on their manager. Erik ten Hag may be counting on Casemiro’s last-minute goal to have a similar galvanizing impact during his time as manager.
The Brazilian’s header was the 36th attempt on goal on a night devoid of quality but the result is all that matters for Ten Hag, who will be holding on to hope United can reach Wembley in this competition as he looks to prove himself to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s new minority shareholder – although the small matter of Liverpool awaits in the next round as United look to go one better than being beaten finalists last season.
Ten Hag’s performance will be evaluated based on the trophies won and players signed, but one of the recent signings, Antony, only played for 73 minutes without much impact. The upcoming FA Cup is Manchester United’s only chance for a trophy as they have struggled to find consistency in the Premier League and faced disappointment in the Champions League group stage. For continued employment at Old Trafford, success must be achieved and Ratcliffe’s arrival has added even more pressure. The match ended with an underwhelming goal by Casemiro, which accurately reflected the overall performance, as United capitalized on Forest’s difficulties in defending set pieces.
Ten Hag praised Casemiro for his numerous goals and described him as a valuable member of the team. He emphasized the Brazilian player’s importance and the impact his leadership has on the team’s performance. Ten Hag also mentioned that Casemiro’s absence during a period of time was deeply felt as he brings structure to the team.
The game seemed to be heading to extra time with 89 minutes of missed shots, but United unexpectedly won with one less shot, showing signs of improvement. This win came without their in-form player Rasmus Højlund, who has been scoring consistently and was absent due to injury. Their previous game against Fulham ended in a frustrating defeat with only one goal scored after 21 attempts. However, at the City Ground, they managed to secure a victory with one less shot, which is a small step forward in their progress.
The match was a struggle, with Ten Hag complimenting United’s “strength”. They faced challenges with injuries, having to use Sofyan Amrabat as a left-back and relying on Bruno Fernandes to play despite being injured. However, Fulham’s social media accounts made fun of Fernandes when he appeared to be in pain during the match on Saturday.
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Ten Hag stated that Fernandes was being targeted by Forest, noting that he had to leave the City Ground due to a significant injury. He expressed disappointment in those who criticized Fernandes on social media in light of the severity of his injury. Ten Hag also praised Fernandes for his determination to play in the match, citing his high pain tolerance and previous displays of leadership in similar situations against Spurs and in the semi-final against Brighton.
During the first 17 minutes, United had multiple opportunities to score three goals. Antony, Scott McTominay, and Marcus Rashford all had good chances from within the penalty area, but only McTominay managed to test the goalkeeper. The other shots hit the crossbar or were blocked by the cheering fans. It is obvious that United needs another striker to support Højlund and take some pressure off of him when he returns to the team.
On Sunday, United will face Manchester City and are not expected to have as many opportunities to score. Additionally, their competition will not be as wasteful as Forest. Although the hosts were not very involved in the first half, they were able to keep up with United due to the team’s subpar finishing.
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Forest discovered a danger following a break. André Onana was attentive and successfully defended against attempts from Taiwo Awoniyi and Divock Origi. Despite this, Nuno Espírito Santo stated that it was disappointing to ultimately lose, recognizing the unpredictable nature of football.
Reworded: From beginning to end, the game lacked quality and the possibility of scoring seemed far-fetched. However, Fernandes broke through with a free-kick from the left that ricocheted off the front post, where Casemiro was unmarked and able to head the ball through Matt Turner’s legs.
A considerable pause for VAR review was conducted to determine if Raphaël Varane was in an offside position and impacting the play. However, the goal was ultimately deemed valid. The away supporters and team bench breathed a collective sigh of relief.
United’s ability to score goals late in the game has become a notable strength. Without these late goals, Ten Hag would be facing a worrisome situation. However, with Casemiro’s contribution, there is now hope for a second trophy under United’s management. Nevertheless, there is pressure to secure a return to Wembley.
Source: theguardian.com
