Man Utd reached the FA Cup semi-finals after defeating Liverpool 4-3 after extra-time (Photo: Getty)
Alan Shearer has warned Manchester United that it will ‘not be easy’ to beat Coventry City despite being handed the most favourable route to the FA Cup final.
United beat arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday in an epic 4-3 thriller to reach the semi-finals of the cup, with Amad Diallo scoring the winner in the 121st minute.
There was further delight for fans when the semi-final draw was made, with the Red Devils set to face Coventry of the Championship, therefore avoiding Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea.
The Sky Blues stunned rivals Wolves with two goals in injury time to reach the semis for the first time since 1987 when they won the competition.
With the way the draw has worked out, many predict that we will get a repeat of last year’s all Manchester FA Cup final, and while Shearer ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if that happened, he believes United should be prepared for a tough game.
‘They [United, City and Chelsea] were all sat there thinking, “we want Coventry”, which is understandable,’ the legendary striker said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘But Man United got them and it’s not going to be easy for them by the way. I was really impressed by Coventry.
Coventry beat Wolves 3-2 with two injury time goals to reach the semis (Photo: Getty)
‘Their manager Mark Robins is doing an unbelievable job. The way they fought back against Wolves was really, really impressive and it was no fluke they deserved it, they were brilliant.
‘But it’s understandable that everyone wanted them in the semi-finals.’
Given United’s inconsistent form and the ‘magic of the cup’ anything really could happen when the two sides meet at Wembley on either 20/21 April.
FA Cup winner odds:
The FA Cup is the last chance of a trophy for United this season and with speculation surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future, winning it would go a long way to keeping the manager in the dugout.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been tipped to replace the Dutchman in the summer, but Shearer has praised Ten Hag for getting such a big result amid all the paper talk.
‘Every single week he probably reads that even if he wins the FA Cup it may not be enough,’ he added.
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‘They’ve got to finish in the top four which is going to be extremely difficult. He’ll read that they’re already speaking to different managers.
‘He’s got to put up with all of that so for him to go in against Liverpool and win in that fashion, and his team are out there scraping and fighting for him, that’s a huge result for him and well done him.’
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