NOTTINGHAM, England — Mark Robins is etched in Manchester United historical past because the participant who saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial job with an FA Cup winner at Nottingham Forest almost 35 years in the past. Erik ten Hag can solely hope that Casemiro is known for a similar motive in one other 35 years’ time.
Casemiro’s glancing header on the close to publish within the 89th minute Wednesday earned Man United a 1-0 win over Forest within the FA Cup fifth spherical, easing the stress on his under-fire supervisor, Ten Hag.
After Robins’ aim on the Metropolis Floor in January 1990, United went on to win the FA Cup to kickstart an unprecedented period of success beneath Ferguson at Outdated Trafford. There’s work to do if Ten Hag’s story goes to comply with an analogous storyline — significantly with Liverpool ready within the quarterfinals — however on the very least it is a much-needed win initially of what could possibly be a defining week for the Dutchman.
Subsequent up is a go to to Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, a derby fixture that may’ve made the highlight on Ten Hag that a lot harsher had United seen their solely probability for {hardware} vanish after an FA Cup exit. For now, although, due to Wednesday’s victory, Ten Hag can breathe once more.
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“It is massive,” Ten Hag stated. “We wish to win each competitors, so each sport is massive. The followers, they deserve a group who’re preventing and that present domination and fervour and want and resilience, they usually confirmed it immediately.
“There are lots of good groups within the Premier League, and Liverpool and [Manchester] Metropolis are high, however it’s a terrific problem and we’re actually trying ahead to [playing Liverpool in the next round] as a result of we just like the problem.”
As Ferguson discovered all these years in the past, administration can generally be about timing, and there isn’t any doubt that Ten Hag wanted this now.
The defeat to Fulham on Saturday was a depressing instance of every part that has been incorrect at United this season, and although most of the similar flaws had been on present towards Forest, United discovered a technique to win.
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“We created good possibilities, however we allowed them some counters after which after that we took management and we had been extra calm and composed,” Ten Hag stated. “I am very happy with the second half and very happy with the spirit and fervour and want they confirmed, which is all the time the usual.”
Forest, who beat United right here in December, will marvel how they managed to have 16 pictures however could not rating whereas United, who had 20 of their very own, will really feel the sport ought to have been put to mattress lengthy earlier than Casemiro stooped to nudge in Bruno Fernandes’ free kick from the left.
“I am disenchanted for the followers,” stated Forest supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo. “We had good conditions, and we’re disenchanted to lose on the finish.”
The significance of the aim wasn’t misplaced on Casemiro who roared and fist-pumped in entrance of the 6,000 followers who made the two-hour journey from Manchester. After 5 minutes of stoppage time, the United supporters started to sing their Casemiro chant, and the 32-year-old saluted and beat his chest together with his fist.
Of all the problems Ten Hag has confronted this season, Casemiro’s dedication to the trigger is not considered one of them. Ten Hag will want all of Casemiro’s high quality and expertise on the Etihad this weekend.
“He is a implausible participant,” Ten Hag stated. “He is scored so many objectives for us, greater than he has in his profession. It is nice to have a participant like Casemiro in your group and also you see how necessary he’s for us and when he is not there you actually miss him. His management makes us play higher and the standard he has on the ball.”
Talking on Tuesday, Ten Hag stated he does not care concerning the noise round his job — however with out a public assure from new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the hypothesis will proceed.
As disappointing as this season has been, United can nonetheless flip it round by profitable the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.
Given the monetary increase generated by qualifying for Europe’s high membership competitors, it could possibly be that Ten Hag’s future is tied to ending within the high 4 of the Premier League, however reaching Wembley and profitable a second trophy as United boss would additionally go a great distance towards convincing Ratcliffe and securing his place forward of subsequent season.
The 1990 FA Cup was Ferguson’s first trophy at Outdated Trafford and got here at a time when there have been mounting questions on whether or not the Scotsman needs to be sacked. It was Robins’ aim in a 1-0 win on the Metropolis Floor within the third spherical that gave United and Ferguson the possibility to succeed in Wembley.
Ten Hag continues to be alive on this season’s FA Cup, and due to Casemiro’s Robins second, there could be life left in his reign as United coach.
