Ten Hag highlights key factor in Fulham win

Five minutes of madness midway through the second half, when two Fulham players and manager Marco Silva were sent off following the award of a penalty to United for handball, will make the headlines but Erik was eager to highlight the Reds' character and the attacking transition which helped create the incident.

The boss also commented on a first United goal for Marcel Sabitzer, as well as the semi-final draw which has pitted us against in-form Brighton and Hove Albion next month.

Here are the main subjects Ten Hag touched upon in his post-match interviews...

RESILIENT REDS

“Once again, we showed great character. It's not that easy. We've played the most games of every team all over Europe, every third day, and every time we showed personality, resilience, determination to win the game, today was tough but we didn't expect any different before the game because Fulham is a good team and you have to be good to outplay them.”

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A HALF-TIME LEAD

“I think in the first half we played decent, could've been better on the ball. We should have recognised the overload on the left-hand side and used that better. Out of possession we did quite well. We had to work hard against a good Fulham [side] but I think we created some good pressing moments and from then on we had really good attacking transitions with great opportunities to score a goal, which we didn't, at half-time we should have been one or two up. Second half we lost a little bit of control, great saves from David, and then a great counter-attack from Antony and Jadon Sancho.”

DECISIVE DAVID

“The first five or 10 minutes after half-time were really heavy, really tough. We conceded a goal and there were three big saves from David. We survived and then made a great transition moment and that was the key turning point in the game.”

VIEW OF THE MAJOR INCIDENT

“I don't want to emphasise that. I think it was a great counter and it was a great job, what Antony did it was so clever together with Jadon Sancho, and then put down the goalkeeper. I think it was clear, everyone saw it, [it was] handball. I think the penalty was clear and obvious. After, I don't have a comment. It's not about my team, I don't give a comment on the opponent. But we can say after they went down to nine we outplayed them well.”

MAGIC MOMENT FOR MARCEL

“He showed it [the joy of scoring] and he expressed it to the Stretford End. We all like scoring in front of our fans. It doesn’t matter which end, we like to celebrate with them.”

A TEAM SHOWING

“As a team we performed really well; De Gea great saves, Antony with his great [cameo from the bench] because that attacking transition moment with Jadon Sancho, of course Marcel Sabitzer, and most of all I think Bruno Fernandes. He is the big leader, centre of the pitch, playmaking, [he had] a really good game and then finally he got his goal.”

WE’LL REGROUP BEFORE BRIGHTON

“In this moment, it's far away. First we have the international break, we have to analyse this period, players go away, then we come back and we have a huge week in the Premier League. It's about Newcastle, Brentford, and Everton.”

RHYTHM OVER REST

“My players have to continue and so do I and the players who go to international break will have a couple of days but not too long as need the energy. We don't need rest. The players are going to play for their nations. So when we come back, we keep in the rhythm. Players like to play, they have the energy, we will rotate but we also have to go from game to game and pick the best 11 on the pitch.”