Coventry boss piles pressure on Man Utd to win FA Cup semi-final
- United favourites to beat Coventry and reach FA Cup final for second year in a row
- Defeat would put enormous pressure on United manager Erik ten Hag
- The Red Devils enduring an inconsistent season after promising first year under Dutchman
Coventry City manager Mark Robins admits Manchester United are overwhelming favourites to win their FA Cup semi-final tie at Wembley.
Robins' side booked their place in the last four with a famous 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, delivered by two injury-time goals from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright.
The Sky Blues lost in last season's play-off final to Luton Town and had looked on track to reach this season's play-offs. But a recent dip in form that has seen Coventry lose three of their last four Championship games means a return to the Premier League is almost certainly out of reach.
Coventry have the chance to pull off the unthinkable by beating United, but Robins is under no illusions over who are favourites to win at Wembley. The 54-year-old did add, however, that it would be a mistake for anybody to write his side off.
"We know they are clearly favourites to win this game by a million miles, they are expected to win, it's as simple as that," Robins said. "First and foremost, we've got to be right. We've lost three of our last four, it's not brilliant form that's for sure at this stage of the season.
"People have been talking about, has there been one eye on this game? I doubt it, although you could be forgiven for thinking about the game before it's played."
Robins famously scored a winning goal for Manchester United in their FA Cup third round tie with Nottingham Forest in 1990 - a strike that is believed to have saved the job of Sir Alex Ferguson, who was under severe pressure at Old Trafford.
Current United manager Erik ten Hag is also under the cosh after a difficult second season at Old Trafford, and defeat at Wembley would heighten speculation that the club's new minority owners, INEOS, will appoint a new boss for next season.
Speaking in his own press conference, Ten Hag said of the game: "Yes, of course we want to win every game so when we don't win we are disappointed. We are frustrated but we know also we can beat the best teams. We drew twice against Liverpool, we beat them in the FA Cup, we played very good against Chelsea.
"When we play to our levels we can achieve really high highs. Last season was last season. We want to achieve every season, we want to win trophies, we have a big opportunity. We are in a semi-final but it's a huge challenge."
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