Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Carabao Cup result and final score after Anthony Martial and Fred goals
Manchester United lead 3-0 after first leg and hope to win first piece of silverware since 2017
Manchester United will book a place at Wembley if they avoid losing to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-finals tonight. The Red Devils did the damage in the first leg thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford,Wout Weghorst, and Bruno Fernandes who helped Erik ten Hag’s men to a 3-0 win.
The manager has been quite vocal about his desire to bring silverware back to Old Trafford and the Carabao Cup is United’s best chance at winning a trophy for the first time since 2017. Attempting to stop them are Nottingham Forest but it would take a remarkable comeback from Steve Cooper’s side to get back in this tie.
It remains to be seen whether Ten Hag will rest his key players but Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho are expected to be in the matchday squad and could make their return for the Red Devils. The winner of this semi-final will play Newcastle at Wembley after Eddie Howe’s side defeated Southampton to reach their first cup final since 1999.
Follow all the action from the Carabao Cup semi-final at Old Trafford:
Erik Ten Hag explains how Jadon Sancho gives Man Utd ‘different dynamic’ as No 10
Erik Ten Hag has revealed how Jadon Sancho can thrive as a No 10 after returning from injury for Manchester United.
The England star returned to the pitch for the first time since October in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The Dutch manager shifted Bruno Fernandes to the wing to allow Sancho to thrive in the hole, a role that he believes could be his future.
“We have done it before,” explained Ten Hag to Sky Sports.. “Bruno out [wide], it’s a different dynamic. Jadon can play as a No 10 or as a winger, we mix it up and around.”
Erik Ten Hag explains tactical switch after Jadon Sancho’s Man Utd return
The England winger operated as a No 10 with Bruno Fernandes pushed out wide in his first appearance since October
Erik Ten Hag calls for ‘quicker’ Man Utd to improve despite Nottingham Forest win
Erik Ten Hag has demanded a quicker version of Manchester United after pinpointing how his team can improve on the winning performance over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Red Devils won 2-0 on the night thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Fred, advancing to the final at Wembley.
But Ten Hag was upset with the performance in the first half and outlined what must change for the Red Devils as they prepare for the final against Newcastle.
“We didn’t create chances and we allowed them to,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports. “The second half was better, more tempo, we are 3-0 up, don’t give them the momentum, they wait for one chance to get back into the game.
“We are searching for gaps, they played well, defended compact, we didn’t find the gaps.”
Erik Ten Hag reveals how Man Utd must improve despite Nottingham Forest win
The Dutch tactician was upset at the start to United’s performance before Anthony Martial and Fred’s late goals
Manchester United cruise past Nottingham Forest to book EFL Cup final place
It will take more than the Carabao Cup to prove Manchester United are back, but it could prove a significant step in their renaissance nonetheless. Erik ten Hag is one win away from the first silverware of his reign, United needing only one victory to end a six-year trophy drought. A semi-final was in effect decided in Nottingham last week. The formalities were concluded with a 12th consecutive triumph at Old Trafford. Newcastle United await in a repeat of the 1999 FA Cup final, and Manchester United would appreciate the same result.
Part of the significance lay in Jadon Sancho’s return, with the winger making his first appearance since October and greeted by a loud cheer by the United fans. The first goal came from a forward whose absence was briefer. Anthony Martial came off the bench to make his first appearance since the Manchester derby and lashed in a shot after he tried to find Marcus Rashford. Instead, Scott McKenna blocked but redirected the ball to the Frenchman.
The second came courtesy of Fred, who had an audition for an extended role in the team in Christian Eriksen’s absence. Kneeing the ball in, courtesy of Rashford’s unselfish assist after a Bruno Fernandes diagonal ball, may not be the crucial factor but the ebullient Brazilian got the Stretford End singing about Wembley.
Man Utd cruise past Forest to book EFL Cup final place
Manchester United 2-0 (agg. 5-0) Nottingham Forest: Anthony Martial and Fred struck on an easy night for the hosts at Old Trafford
FT Man Utd 2-0 Nottm Forest (5-0 agg)
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw speaking to Sky Sports: “Very special. It shows where we are at the moment. The boys are in a good moment and we feel the crowd are with us.
“It’s a final we can really look forward to but we have a few big games first before we go there.
“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.
“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.”
FT Man Utd 2-0 Nottm Forest (5-0 agg)
Reaction from Bruno Fernandes who said: “It’s really good. We reach one final [during my time here] but we unfortunately didn’t win that one. Now we have another chance.
“I’m really happy with the performance of the team and the goals we created. We did it, we won and we’re into the final so we’re really happy.”
FT Man Utd 2-0 Nottm Forest (5-0 agg)
Anthony Martial and Fred both got on the scoresheet to earn Manchester United a 2-0 victory. They progress to Wembley 5-0 on aggregate over these two legs.
Full-time: Man Utd 2-0 Nottm Forest (5-0 agg)
90+1 mins: The final whistle goes and Manchester United win the match and the tie. They’ve beaten Nottingham Forest in both legs of this Carabao Cup semi-final and are heading to Wembley.
There they’ll take on Newcastle in a dogfight for the trophy. It’s United’s 10th league cup final and Erik ten Hag’s first as a Premier League manager.
Can he bring some silverware back to Old Trafford?
Man Utd 2-0 Nottm Forest (5-0 agg)
86 mins: Marcus Rashford lays the ball off to Fred, who hooks it into the box first time. Forest manage to head it away but only to Bruno Fernandes.
He then fizzes it dangerously across the face of the goal.
Man Utd 2-0 Nottm Forest (5-0 agg)
82 mins: Chance! Nottingham Forest should have scored! They break down the left through Emmanuel Dennis who squares the ball across to Danilo.
He gets past Luke Shaw and smashes a shot at goal only for Tom Heaton to come to the rescue. He palms the ball away but it drops to Sam Surridge.
The goal is wide open but Surridge lifts his hurried effort over the top!
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