I spotted Manchester United fans' ruthless banner and it was a warning to the Glazers at Wembley

Manchester United banner
United fans hold up a banner reading '17 months the clock is ticking ... Glazers out'. -Credit:2024 The FA


Manchester United progressed to the final of the FA Cup with a win over Coventry on Sunday afternoon.

United have struggled this season and winning the FA Cup would salvage something from the campaign, so the game against Championship side Coventry was a must-win.

Erik ten Hag's side had a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes extended the advantage in the second half.

Fernandes' goal looked to have killed the game, however, Coventry scored three goals in the final 25 minutes of the game and threatened a miraculous comeback.

United won the game on penalties and here are the moments you might have missed...

ALSO READ: Erik ten Hag should know his fate after seeing Sir Jim Ratcliffe on the big screen

ALSO READ: What two players did during celebrations should extend one career and end another

The Glazer banner

Coventry fans were in fine voice before the game. Their last visit to Wembley was just under a year ago for the play-off final in the Championship, which they lost against Luton Town, but a semi-final against United is an occasion they were always bound to savour.

The Coventry end was a sea of blue flags and their supporters proudly sang 'We'll Live and Die in These Towns' by The Enemy, which was followed by 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' for United.

There were no bucket hats for each United fan - they were handed out in the Carabao Cup final last season - but a red devil tifo was unfurled as the players emerged.

And just behind Andre Onana's goal was a pocket of fans with a banner that read: "17 months, the clock is ticking. Glazers out." For anyone unfamiliar, that banner references a reported clause inserted into Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of a minority stake that says he must sell his 25 per cent shares if the Glazers decide to sell to another party in the next 18 months.

United fans want the Glazers gone. -Credit:2024 Marc Atkins
United fans want the Glazers gone. -Credit:2024 Marc Atkins

Avram Glazer attended the game and his family remains deeply unpopular in Manchester. United fans have been delighted to see Ratcliffe become a co-owner and the British billionaire is making overdue changes at boardroom level, but protests will continue for as long as the Glazers are involved at Old Trafford in some capacity.

The ITV cameras, which are shown in the press box, panned to Ratcliffe when Coventry scored their second and he sat dumbfounded with his head in his hands. The anti-Glazer banner was subsequently broadcast around the world during the penalty shootout.

Sacked in the morning?

"You're getting sacked in the morning," and "3-0 and you f***** it up," echoed around Wembley after Coventry's equaliser and Ten Hag stood motionless on the touchline.

This fixture was a must-win game for United and Ten Hag was staring down the barrel of a gun when Coventry scored through Victor Torp in the last minute of extra time.

United's players sunk to the turf, and Ten Hag stoically and helplessly looked on as Coventry's players celebrated. That moment had the potential to be the nadir of his tenure, but VAR intervened, disallowed the goal and extended Ten Hag's stay of execution.

The celebrations from those in red shirts were humdrum when the penalty shootout was won and Ten Hag sheepishly shook hands with Coventry manager Mark Robins.

Famously, many believe Robins saved Sir Alex Ferguson's job when the legendary former United boss was under pressure in 1990 and some fans have referenced the patience that was given to Ferguson when suggesting that Ten Hag should stay for another season.

The number of fans who want Ten Hag to stay is dwindling every weekend.

United's collapse was a disgrace. -Credit:2024 Getty Images
United's collapse was a disgrace. -Credit:2024 Getty Images

Ten Hag's message to Dalot

A few minutes before McTominay's goal, Ten Hag summoned Dalot to the touchline and became animated when giving him tactical instructions.

After that conversation, Dalot began to move into central positions before gradually moving back to the right, which gave United a numerical overload on that side.

Coventry failed to recognise his movement, he was left unmarked, which led to the first goal, as Dalot burst down the wing and played in a teasing, beautiful cross.

Interestingly, Ten Hag pointed straight to Dalot when McTominay found the net and the full-back reciprocated the gesture, suggesting what they'd just discussed had worked.

Rashford and Garnacho swapping wings

Ten Hag might have felt like he got an assist for McTominay's goal, given it came from Dalot after their discussion, and he almost got another before half-time.

That's because Ten Hag ordered Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to swap wings, which saw Rashford move to the right and almost score after his position change.

Rashford's shot was practically his first touch after swapping sides and Coventry's goalkeeper, Bradley Collins, produced an excellent save to turn it over the bar.

Ten Hag has been heavily criticised throughout this season, but he seemed to get his in-game management right against Coventry - until the second half when he hooked Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo for Antony and Christian Eriksen.

The midfield became a problem and a spectacular, unforgivable collapse unfolded. United might have won the game in the end, but Ten Hag's card is marked and the performance might represent the point of no return.

All is forgiven with Garnacho?

Shortly after United's draw against Bournemouth, Garnacho undermined his manager with a few clicks by liking tweets questioning his substitution.

Garnacho is a young player and everybody makes foolish mistakes in their teenage years, but he must act better and his social media activity was inadvisable.

Ten Hag revealed in his press conference ahead of facing Coventry the winger had apologised and reiterated the matter had been dealt with. Garnacho started at Wembley and, importantly, his name was sung by United fans when he was replaced in the 66th minute.

The 19-year-old clasped hands with Ten Hag as he exited the pitch and although it wasn't the warmest exchange, it was proof they had buried the hatchet.

However, the state of Garnacho's relationship with Ten Hag might not matter - he seems a dead man walking and is likely to be sacked at the end of the season.