Manchester United fans are all convinced that the Premier League club are ‘cursed’ after one key decision in a dramatic FA Cup semi-final tie against Coventry City.
The Red Devils reached the FA Cup semi-final after a stunning 4-3 win over Premier League rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals last month.
Coventry City, on the other hand, punched their ticket to the semi-finals after securing a sensational 3-2 upset over Wolves in the quarter-finals at the Molineux.
Manchester United were comfortably leading Coventry in regular playing time at Wembley on Sunday after making the breakthrough in the first half.
Scott McTominay fired United into the lead in the 23rd minute before former club captain Harry Maguire put the Red Devils 2-1 up before half-time.
United skipper Bruno Fernandes scored after the break and United appeared all but certain to reach the FA Cup final after going 3-0 up at Wembley.
However, the Red Devils suffered an epic second-half collapse and Coventry rallied back into the contest with a stunning comeback in regular playing time.
Man Utd ‘curse’ hits against Coventry
Ellis Simms pulled one back for Coventry City in the 71st minute before Callum O’Hare scored his side’s second against Manchester United only eight minutes later.
United’s second-half collapse was completed after Aaron Wan-Bissaka was penalised in injury time and referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot.
Haji Wright stepped up for the crucial penalty in injury time and sent Andre Onana the wrong way to ensure the FA Cup semi-final tie went to extra time.
Erik ten Hag appeared crestfallen after Coventry’s sensational comeback from 3-0 down, but the United manager also made a costly mistake in the match.
The United boss made the bold decision to withdraw Alejandro Garnacho in the second half and replaced him with Red Devils winger Antony.
Only four minutes after Alejandro Garnacho came off, Erik ten Hag withdrew teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo and replaced him with Christian Eriksen.
Garnacho, who has impressed this season for United, appeared frustrated after he was pulled off and Red Devils fans think the club ‘curse’ has hit them again.
The 19-year-old Spain-born winger is an influential presence on the pitch and United have struggled previously when he made way in matches this season.
Garnacho scored a stunning brace against Chelsea earlier this month and the Red Devils were leading 3-2 when Ten Hag hooked him from the pitch.
However, Ten Hag’s decision backfired and Chelsea star Cole Palmer scored a stunning hat-trick to ensure the Blues’ 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge.
United were leading Liverpool 2-1 earlier this month at Old Trafford after coming from 1-0 down and Garnacho was subbed off again in the second half.
Mohamed Salah then scored a penalty for Liverpool late in the second half and rescued a point for the Reds in the Premier League clash.
Man Utd fans react to Garnacho being subbed off
United fans on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, are convinced that the Red Devils are ‘cursed’ after the FA Cup semi-final tie.
The Red Devils supporters slammed Ten Hag for making the decision to withdraw Garnacho and not learn from the mistakes from the Chelsea and Liverpool results.
“Every time you take Garnacho off this happens,” one fan said.
Someone else added: “How many times have we seen Manchester United concede when Garnacho is substituted this season? Bizarre.”
Another posted: “Every time we bring Garnacho off, we concede, it can’t be a coincidence now?”
A fourth tweeted: “Taking off Mainoo and Garnacho was a horrendous decision from Ten Hag!”
“He never learns, don’t sub Garnacho,” another wrote.
While a sixth commented: “Is Garnacho the strong link in the team or have [Ten Hag] subs been the weak leak recently? Chelsea subbed off, drop [three] points; Liverpool subbed off, drop [two] points; Coventry subbed off, concede [three] in 29 minutes!”
And a seventh said: “Every single time Garnacho is subbed out, Man Utd suffers. It was the same against Liverpool, Chelsea and now here. Ten Hag never learns.”