Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is wary of the threat Coventry City will pose in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final, describing the Championship as the fifth-strongest league in world football.
Coventry have been the story of the FA Cup this season, reaching the semi-finals for just the second time in their history, having won the competition when they last did so in 1986-87.
They scored two stoppage-time goals in a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolves in the quarter-finals to tee up Sunday’s meeting with United, who need to lift the trophy to salvage some pride from a miserable second season under Ten Hag.
Read our other football news stories here:
Perfection the goal for Klopp as Liverpool look for title race reset
EFL denies involvement in controversial deal to scrap FA Cup replays
Arteta’s Arsenal in danger of becoming like Pochettino’s Tottenham, says Carragher
While the Red Devils are overwhelming favourites to reach the final, Ten Hag does not expect them to have it all their own way at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking to United’s website about the challenge of facing second-tier opponents, Ten Hag said: “I think it’s the fifth division worldwide and it’s a very good league, very competitive.
“It has players who are very fit and also the technical levels are very high, so you have to play your best game if you want to beat them.”
Let our weekend at Wembley begin. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9pTeBj8ekj
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) April 20, 2024
Having suffered penalty heartache against Luton Town when they last visited Wembley for last season’s Championship play-off final, Coventry have regrouped impressively under former United striker Mark Robins.
Despite losing star performers Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer last summer, the Sky Blues retain an outside chance of making the play-offs for a second successive campaign.
Ten Hag has been impressed by Robins’ work, saying: “It’s a huge performance from them and they did so well last season.
“They were so close to promotion to the Premier League, then they lost some good players and then you have to rebuild and that’s normal.
“But they are still playing and fighting for promotion because they can still go into the play-offs and go for another chance to get into the Premier League.”
Our last @EmiratesFACup semi-final. 💭 pic.twitter.com/ISVUbteW09
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) April 20, 2024
