Football: Man United finish off Forest to cruise into League Cup final

MANCHESTER – Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane hailed manager Erik ten Hag for ridding the Red Devils of “energy sappers” after they sealed their place in the League Cup final.

Ten Hag’s side will meet Newcastle United at Wembley on Feb 26 after a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday sealed a 5-0 semi-final aggregate victory.

Anthony Martial and Fred scored as United booked their place in a first League Cup final for six years.

Keane said on Sky Sports: “When the new manager came in, Man United were rock bottom. But what was the key was the five or six players who left.

“I’m not knocking all these players but they were experienced – Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard – lads who were around and kind of knew they were leaving, their contracts were up.

“That wasn’t helping whereas there definitely feels like there’s a new energy, the manager has obviously put a few markers on since the start of the season.

“That momentum, the feel-good energy is back at the club.

“(Cristiano) Ronaldo has been moved on, but also the other five or six players who left.

“These were big players like (Edinson) Cavani. The fringe players last year who weren’t involved, you felt they were energy sappers.”

Three managers have left the club since United last won a trophy under Jose Mourinho in 2017. 

But ten Hag is now just one game away from ending that drought in his first season in charge. 

“I think we have a good squad so we have to demand and control the high standards,” he said.

“You have to bring that every game. We are Manchester United. When you are a United player you have to match the standards...

“It is not an achievement to come into a final.

“We want to win them but first we have other things to do. We come back to the Premier League and bury this cup.

“It is good to reach the final but it is not about reaching the final, it is about winning it.”

The damage was done for the Red Devils in last week’s 3-0 win at the City Ground in the first leg as ten Hag was able to rotate his squad with United still involved in four competitions.

Ten Hag made six changes from the side that beat Reading 3-1 in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday with Marcus Rashford among those left on the bench, but Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes did start despite the heavy schedule.

United failed to reach the heights of their first leg performance but were let off the hook by Forest in the first half as Brennan Johnson and Emmanuel Dennis missed big chances to reduce the visitors’ arrears in their first major cup semi-final since 1992.

Wout Weghorst opened his account for United when the sides last met and the giant Dutch striker was inches away from his first goal at Old Trafford as he headed Casemiro’s cross off the post just before half-time.

Ten Hag was handed a limited budget in the January transfer window after spending over £200 million (S$300 million) in the summer with just the loan signings of Weghorst, Marcel Sabitzer and Jack Butland.

But the return of Jadon Sancho comes at just the right time to bolster United’s attacking options.

The England international had been sidelined since October due to a combination of mental and physical issues, but made his return just after the hour mark.

Rashford and Martial were introduced alongside Sancho and made an instant impact.

“We have had to make lots of compromises in the season so far so hopefully now they are all available,” added Ten Hag.

“If you want to win trophies, you need them all to be available. You saw tonight you can bring a new dynamic off the bench.”

Martial slotted home after Rashford’s initial effort was blocked to open the scoring.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as this time Rashford teed up Fred for the simplest of finishes into an empty net.

A much tougher test awaits in high-flying Newcastle, but defender Luke Shaw believes United are on the march towards silverware under ten Hag. 

“It’s extremely pleasing but there’s no point going to a final if we don’t win it. It’s where we want to be,” said the England left-back, whose French defensive partner Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football on Thursday.

“We want to get this club back to where it should be, which is winning trophies.

“Newcastle are an extremely good team but it’s a big moment for us in where we want to go.”

The final will have safe standing areas, marking the first time in 35 years that some fans can stand at a domestic final, the English Football League said on Thursday.

Wembley Stadium, which seats 90,000 spectators, will have standing areas behind each goal, with 867 seats available to both clubs.

Grounds in England’s top divisions were converted to all-seater stadiums more than 30 years ago. This was after Liverpool fans were crushed in overcrowded and fenced-in areas at the Hillsborough Stadium in 1989, leading to 97 deaths.

“In these areas, fans are allowed to stand for matches in allocated spaces behind a barrier or a rail which prevents them from falling forward,” the EFL said in a statement. “In all other areas of the stadium supporters must remain seated.”

The decision follows a trial where clubs like Cardiff City, Chelsea, Manchester City, United and Tottenham Hotspur offered licensed standing in designated seated areas for home and away fans.

The British government said last July that more British football clubs were to adopt safe standing areas within their stadiums.

In other United news, charges including attempted rape and assault against Mason Greenwood have been dropped, British police said on Thursday.

The 21-year-old was charged in October with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But Greater Manchester Police said criminal proceedings had been discontinued, noting: “A combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material... meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”
AFP, REUTERS