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Manchester United are set to make their way to Wembley to take on Coventry City in a crucial FA Cup semi-final clash.
During a dreary and very disappointing season, the FA Cup represents United’s last chance of winning silverware and somewhat restoring some of the pride that has already been lost.
Erik ten Hag and his players will undoubtedly be heading into the game with the burden and expectations that come with being perceived as the heavy favourites to win the tie.
A defeat at the hands of Coventry – Championship opposition – would almost certainly spell the end of the under-fire Ten Hag, whose tenure in the Old Trafford target is uncertain. The stakes could not be higher.
Meanwhile, Coventry will be buoyed by their resilience against Wolves in the quarter-final which culminated in a dramatic 100th-minute comeback against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Mark Robins’ men are by no stretch of the imagination the minnows many may consider them to be in comparison to the mighty United.
Here are three crucial battles that the Red Devils must win to book their ticket to the final, where they will face Manchester City.
Experience vs. underdog mentality
A huge advantage United possess over Coventry ahead of the match is that the 20-time English champions are vastly more experienced at Wembley compared to Robins’ side.
United made it two Wembley finals last season – in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. The former ended in victory against Newcastle while the latter resulted in defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
United will be aiming to win the domestic competition for the 13th time in their illustrious history. In comparison, Coventry last won the FA Cup in the 1986/87 season during a 3-2 win vs. Tottenham Hotspur.
Apart from their familiarity with Wembley, the Reds possess the advantage of frequently competing against top-tier opponents in the Premier League. Each week, United’s players face off against elite talents who excel in both England’s premier division and across Europe.
To counter all this, Coventry’s secret weapon lies in their unwavering determination to cause a massive upset and go down in the record books as the massive underdogs who took United down.
As dark horses, Coventry have it within them to galvanise, rally together and shock United. Ten Hag’s stars have on more than one occasion this season proven to be mentally fragile and susceptible to falling apart when the odds are against them.
Under Robins, Coventry have evolved into an electrifying force and their display vs. Wolves was a testament to their unwavering team spirit and aspirations for a potential fairytale that will be etched in the minds of fans for years to come.
Will Ten Hag harness United’s entrenched experience and favoured status to secure a spot in the final against Manchester City, or will Robins orchestrate a stunning upset, adding to his managerial counterpart’s woes while etching his name in Coventry’s record books?
Midfield showdown
As Wolves so rudely found out in the previous round of the competition, Coventry are not at all scared to take the fight to their more superior opponents. Robins’ style of play, if needed, boasts of fearlessness and aggression – attributes that could give them a huge advantage against United, especially in the middle of the park.
Against Wolves, the Coventry midfielders repeatedly demonstrated a desire to quickly win the ball and seek a killer pass to the deadly Ellis Simms who is in fine form in front of goal. The striker is adept at dropping off the forward line, occupying space and becoming the pivot for his wide men – especially Haji Wright – who often runs off him.
This is a tactic United must be wary of as it can easily work against their disjointed midfield set-up which frequently affords rivals large tracts of space to work with.
Often this campaign, Ten Hag has been accused of failing to organize a coherent midfield in which the players are in sync with each other. A section of the United players go forward to participate in the press while the others drop deep to protect Andre Onana’s goal. The consequence of this is that huge gaping holes are left in the middle.
In addition to this, Coventry will also be keen on taking full advantage of Casemiro’s frailties. The Brazilian simply doesn’t have the legs anymore and in recent games has shown himself to be a liability to the team.
United will have to pay close attention to Ben Sheaf, who has an impressive passing range on him and is also a hard worker. Sheaf ranks fifth in England’s second division for tackles won (97).
Going forward, he can also initiate attacks can participate in passing phases designed to break down defences. Furthermore, Sheaf has formed a productive partnership with Josh Eccles, who can cover every blade of grass if need be. He retains the ball well and is a good decision-maker.
In midfield, United will find most of their joy from the exciting Kobbie Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes.
Mainoo is United’s primary source of control and the club will once again need him to inject the calm and composure that characterises his play into the midfield showdown vs. Coventry.
Since his breakthrough into the team in November, the 19-year-old has made an undeniable impact, and once more, he must perform at his peak. Mainoo’s composure in the face of challenges has been evident, suggesting that the upcoming game against Coventry will be no different for him—an ordinary kick-around.
On the other hand, Fernandes will serve as United’s primary wellspring of creativity and opportunities. The Portuguese maestro stands as the driving force behind the Reds and arrives on the heels of a stellar performance in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, where he netted twice. Leading the team in chances created, he may well be the linchpin relied upon to ignite United’s path to victory against Coventry.
Ellis Simms vs. Harry Maguire
A player United will need to neutralize and keep quiet is Simms, who is enjoying a rich vein of form.
The former Everton prospect took some time to get going this season but is now purring in front goal and enjoying himself. Simms has plundered 18 goals across the Championship and the FA Cup – most of these have come since February.
The 23-year-old is an excellent finisher that can hold up the ball and bring others into play.
It seemed like it would be an impossible task to fill the vacuum left by Viktor Gyokeres who departed the Coventry Building Society Arena in search of pastures anew in Liga NOS with Sporting Lisbon. However, Simms has ensured that the Swedish forward has not been sorely missed.
Amad Diallo recently warned his teammates about the threat posed by Simms.
Charged with patrolling Simms and keeping him at bay will be Harry Maguire – United’s only senior central defender who’s fit and available to Ten Hag for selection.
Against Bournemouth, Maguire showcased his defensive prowess as he registered three clearances, won five of his six aerial duels and three of his four challenges on the ground.
For United to secure victory, Maguire must exert his authority, thwart Simms, and prevent the Coventry player from wreaking havoc.
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