Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United should not be embarrassed about their penalty shootout win as he bemoaned a refereeing “curse” against the club.

The Dutchman’s time at Old Trafford appears to be drawing to a close, further cemented by United throwing away a three-goal lead to scrape past Championship side Coventry City on penalties to reach the FA Cup Final.

Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright scored to force extra time before Victor Thorp saw a last-minute goal disallowed for offside by the VAR at Wembley.

Rasmus Hojlund scored the winning spotkick, after Casemiro, Ben Sheaf and O'Hare missed theirs, but was joined by few team-mates, seemingly sheepish to celebrate such a narrow victory over a team sitting eighth in the second tie.

Ten Hag, though, says his players should have enjoyed the moment, telling reporters: “It is not an embarrassment. It is a huge achievement. We achieved two finals in two years.

“In the last 20 years, United were in the final five times so two is a huge achievement. When you are so dominant and 3-0 you should finish it. The way we did was not good.

“We can play at very high levels, but in the same match, we can go to very low levels. It is not explainable, but it has to do with managing the game, taking responsibility and making the right decisions. I have to teach my players to make better decisions.

“We can do the most difficult to get a lead. We almost let it slip away but today we got away with it.

Ten Hag on refereeing decisions

“But on penalties, how determined we were is a good sign, but in the last minutes, we made mistakes that shouldn’t have happened.”

Ten Hag was angry at the Aaron Wan-Bissaka handball that led to Wright’s penalty equaliser in the 95th minute, insisting that officials failed to show consistency after a similar call was waved away for his team in extra time.

“From all the setbacks we’ve had, even today we had 3-3, and need consistency from the referee,” he added. “We should have had a penalty. At Chelsea, we had two crazy penalties and Liverpool. It is like a curse against us but we will take energy for this.”

United are suffering from a lengthy injury list with Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala out in defence.

Ten Hag added: “The players should prove they earn to play in the final and help us in the league, but it would also help to bring some players back. To beat Man City, you don’t only need eleven players, but you need your squad to help in whatever position you are in.”