Ten Hag has mixed feelings after semi-final success

The Reds beat Coventry City 4-2 on penalties after the Championship side came from three goals down to take Sunday’s semi-final to extra-time.

United will be back at Wembley on 25 May for another all-Manchester affair against City. Ten Hag is desperate to avenge last season’s defeat but insists his players must learn lessons and improve after being taken the distance by the spirited Sky Blues.

Below, you can read what the boss had to say in his post-match interviews with ITV, BBC and MUTV…

MIXED FEELINGS

“It's mixed feelings. The way we did it isn't OK. We should have managed it better but it's a huge performance. If you analyse the game we controlled 75 minutes but then allowed them to return into the game. We can be happy with the achievement, getting to the final, that's huge. If you see United was, in the last 20 seasons, five times in the FA Cup final and now we are twice there in two years. We need to win that final though. When we [are] 100 per cent in it then we can do it.”

WE HAVE TO IMPROVE

"It was an incredible game, a strange game too. We had total control for so long and then gave it away in the last part of the game. We did show resilience to win the penalty shootout. We had control for 75 minutes and have to give Coventry a compliment for what they did in the last 15 minutes. We have to improve. We talk a lot about this. First you have to put yourself in a winning position but then you have to take it over the line. In these moments we are making mistakes and not keeping our responsibilities. We have to show resilience. By the end we did show resilience and determination to win the shootout. When you are so in control you should win easy."

A LACK OF COMMUNICATION

“We can't say this group doesn't have the right mentality because they showed character today, but in the final part there was a lack of discipline. We have to keep the ball, keep making passes, go for goal and then also be strong in defence. It's about communication and we have to improve on this."

MY MESSAGE BEFORE PENALTIES

"It was about mentality in that moment. You have a plan and have full confidence so I told them to stick to the plan. I had confidence we would win the shootout. Normally Casemiro scores, we train them very well."

CALM AND CONFIDENT

"I am always calm, I focus and know my players can shoot penalties. I'm always confident Andre [Onana] will catch minimum one. I was quite convinced but when the first is a mishit then you never know."

TOGETHERNESS IS IMPORTANT

“Always we are together and it's about the togetherness on the pitch, the togetherness off the pitch and the bench. Definitely subs playing a very important role, but the fans as well. We are in there together and we are in a fight and we will return to the times where United are winning a lot and going a minimum every year for one trophy. To get this you need a togetherness, you need a fight together, you need an ambience to create. And there the fans are hugely important. So I will say thank you to the fans and to stick together and to back us.”

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE TROPHY

"I want to win it. I'm sure we have a good chance to win this final, although we play the best team in the world. We do have a chance though. We showed that this season. This season has had many ups but also many downs. Winning the FA Cup doesn't make it successful, we want to win more. We have been in three finals in two years, which is good, but we had a lot of setbacks this season. We've had a lot of injuries and hopefully those players can be back for the final. If we go with a squad who believe then we have a chance to win a trophy."