Football: Team spirit fired Man United to Wembley – Sabitzer

LONDON – Team spirit powered Manchester United to their FA Cup quarter-final comeback victory over Fulham on Sunday, said midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, but former Red Devils skipper Roy Keane said United “need a kick up the backside”.

Fulham appeared to be heading to their first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 2002 after Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring in the 50th minute after dominating proceedings.

But a Bruno Fernandes brace and Sabitzer’s first goal for the club earned United a 3-1 win and a semi-final clash with Brighton & Hove Albion after Fulham’s Willian and Mitrovic were sent off.

The Brazilian was red-carded for handball on the goal line after a video assistant referee review. A melee then erupted and Mitrovic, who appeared to shove the referee with his shoulder before squaring up to him, was also dismissed, along with his manager Marco Silva on the touchline.

“We played a good first half. We had some chances, missed it. But after the half-time, we came out and conceded a goal and that is not what we wanted,” Sabitzer told MUTV.

“So we know at this time it was going to be tough and hard. But, we still believed it and we had good team spirit and mentality that you can always see on the pitch. You can see and feel it in the dressing room, on the pitch, off the pitch. We worked together, close. We stick together all the time.”

Asked whether United won it or Fulham gave it away, the Austrian said: “We won it. Why not? We scored three, they scored one. We were concentrated and focused; we came back and that’s the important thing.”

United manager Erik ten Hag added: “We are in a position to win trophies, but we have to fight for it. We need the whole squad. We’ve already played from Christmas on, every three or four days a game, and that will continue to the end of the season and that is what we love. It will give us energy.”

Keane, however, saw things differently.

He said on ITV: “I have lost a bit of confidence watching United now. A month or two ago, I was thinking they are up for it. But the last couple of games I have seen some habits come back.

“It is fine to play in moments every now and again but, right now, it feels like their DNA. They have slipped into some really bad habits.

“They turned up today expecting to win the match as they have quality players. But if they turn up with that attitude for the semi-final, Brighton will beat them. United need a kick up the backside.”

Silva, meanwhile, suggested referee Chris Kavanagh needs something similar.

He said: “I shouldn’t be sent off... It’s my place to be there. If you ask me if I did something I’m happy with, of course not.

“But if you ask me if that should be a red card, I have big doubts. I would like to know what the referee is going to write about what I said to him...

“Up until the red card, we were clearly the best team on the pitch.”

For Silva, it wasn’t the first time he felt hard done by Kavanagh.

“Unfortunately for us, we have been very unlucky with Chris Kavanagh this season, many moments,” the 45-year-old said.

“Chris was in a game we played away at West Ham (United), where we lost with two clear handballs. We received the apology because of the mistakes. The last game at Leeds (United) in the FA Cup it was him again. And for a game that is the quarter-finals, it’s him again.”

On Mitrovic, who has scored 12 times this season, the Portuguese said: “I didn’t see in a so, so bad way. He pushed the referee and Mitro should control his emotions. I saw the image and I will speak with him.

“But I hope the people who are going to decide do so with fairness that the moment deserves.”

However, English Premier League-winning former England striker Chris Sutton said the Serb striker deserves a 10-match ban.

He told the BBC: “He saw the red mist. That’s no excuse. You cannot lay your hand on an official.

“It will impact further down the chain at grassroots level. There will be kids watching the game today who think, well if Mitrovic can do it, so can I.” REUTERS, AFP