FA Cup: Man Utd beat nine-man Fulham to reach semi-finals - reaction

A very emotional Marco Silva has just come into his press conference.

Accepts his reaction was wrong, as was Aleksander Mitrovic. But says Fulham should have had two penalties.

A reminder of the FA Cup semi-final line up:

• Brighton v Man Utd
• Man City v Sheff Utd

Both semi-finals will take place at Wembley Stadium across the weekend of 22-23 April.

Manchester United meet Brighton in the semi-finals.

The two sides met in the 1983 FA Cup final, and you can find out more about that encounter in the above video.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag, speaking to ITV on the performance: “In possession, we could have been better. Out of possession, we were excellent. We came under pressure, gave away some set pieces and then conceded the goal. David de Gea kept us in the game after we conceded.

On his players' condition: “This team has great character. We are mentally and physically fit, and I’m happy with our progress as a team.

On Willian’s handball: “It was so clear and obvious. Handball in the box is a clear penalty. But it’s not for me to comment on them. It’s for me to talk about Manchester United and that’s it.

On Marcel Sabitzer's return: “He had a great performance. We are glad he is back from injury. We will be playing a game every three days between now and the end of the season so we need as many fit players as possible.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva to BBC MOTD: “For 75 minutes, playing at Old Trafford against a very good side, we are the best team on the pitch, clearly. The players stuck to the plan, we were brave to control the game against Manchester United and I believe we clearly showed our quality.

“Even if I haven’t done something special, I have to control myself. I didn’t say anything special to the ref, he didn’t listen and showed me the red card. It is a moment to control my emotions. The game was decided in the moment.

“It is a shame the ref wasn’t shown VAR for the first-half moments. It is difficult to be Fulham at Old Trafford, the VAR feels the pressure too. For us it is difficult to understand why they didn’t do the same."

On the red cards: “With Willian, if he feels the player did it on purpose, he should give the red card. If the VAR decides, then it’s clear. Mitro should control his emotions a bit. I would like to check if they did the same with other players this season, but we should have emotional control in the moment.

“If he wants to give me the red card I have to accept it because he didn’t listen to me at all. As I left my area I have to accept it.

"Of course it is a moment for him [Mitro] to learn. He was involved in two situations in the box, the ref didn’t check, he has to be in control of the moment.”

Manchester United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer speaking to BBC MOTD on his first goal for the club: “I was looking for it! I’m very proud to score at Old Trafford, it’s a big win for us. I was too far with my right foot, so used my left foot and it was all good.”

On his thoughts during the red cards: “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking much. I was focused on the game. For the next 20 minutes we had to come back - that’s what I was thinking about.”

On the team: “We have a great mentality, we have great players on the ball but a great mentality and team spirit. I think you can see it on the pitch.

On progressing into the semi-finals: “Before the game we wanted to make it to Wembley, we’re very excited about it and we’re ready for the game.

“Brighton is a good team, we will prepare well for the game. We will be focused for it and we want to go the final.”

Christopher: If you handle the ball on the line it’s a red (and a penalty). If you physically push the referee, it’s a red. If you verbally abuse the referee, it’s a red. Not quite sure where Man Utd’s luck is meant to be? Fulham’s lack of discipline cost them, pure and simple!

Paul: Being out of the FA cup is actually a blessing in disguise for Fulham, tough though it may feel at the moment. It will give Marco Silva more time to work on his excuses.

More from Marco Silva to ITV, on Aleksandar Mitrovic's sending off: "In that moment he has to control his emotions much more like all of us should.

"You have to keep the emotional balance of course. Sometimes it is not easy but it is our obligation to do it. It's been a tough season in some moments for us. We know that we are Fulham, we don't have the same importance in football as some others but it's difficult for us to deal with some situation."

On the penalty decision: "You need to talk about the three [possible] penalties because you are just talking about one moment. You want to talk about the other moments in the box? Why don't you ask me about the other two moments as well? If you want I can talk about that moment [Willian's handball] but I talk about the others as well."

On how Fulham need to recover: "It's our obligation to do. It was a really important moment for us. We showed this afternoon how we deserve to be in the semi-finals. I shouldn't get red card, other moments we cannot control. Unfortunately these situations made a huge impact on the game."

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag, speaking to BBC MOTD on his side’s victory: “That was the aim. We did it, we are happy with the win. We showed great character. Every time this team comes out, they show the personality and the determination needed.

“Fulham are a good team and you have to be good to overcome them. I think we had a good first half. We had great moments in the attacking transition and we should have been two or three goals up.

On the red card incidents: “I don’t want to emphasise that. It was a great counter attack but I think everyone saw it was handball.

On facing Brighton in the semi-final: “The next [FA Cup] game is a long way away. The players will go away on the international break while we analyse the recent period. Then it’s about Newcastle, Brentford and Everton.”

Joe: Needs to be a long ban for Mitrovic. Can’t have him coming into contact with the referee, and then next week kids playing football saying “But that’s what they did on the telly”. No.

Fulham boss Marco Silva to ITV: "Let's talk about all the game and not just one moment. Until the penalty moment and the red cards we were clealry the best team on the pitch. We were the best team on the pitch, clearly. For me it was a decision the VAR can take. What is difficult to understand is why the two moments in the box in the first half one of them is a clear penalty and nobody checks, nobody sees."

On if it was a missed chance for Fulham: "Yes, definitely. On the pitch we were the best team until that moment. It's difficult for us to understand. Chris [Kavanagh] was in a game we played away at West Ham where we lost with two clear handballs, we received the apology because of the mistakes. The last game at Leeds in the FA Cup it was him again. And for a game that is the quarter-finals it's him again, it's difficult to understand. Of course we respect that he's a top referee in this country, I accept that, but unfortunately for us with us he's it's been really unhappy this season."

Kithmina: Mitrovic scored for Fulham and won the game for United!

It had all started so well for Aleksandar Mitrovic after his first FA Cup goal had Fulham on course for the semi-finals but then it unravelled not long after he was sent off for grabbing the referee.

This is the moment Marcel Sabitzer completed the turnaround for Manchester United.

Marco Silva is speaking to ITV. He is annoyed that his side did not get a penalty in the first half and does not feel he should have been sent off. "I have big doubts," he says.

We will have more reaction shortly.

I have come away from that game thinking Fulham played really well and Manchester United were poor. Yet United are through and Fulham are in the dock over their behaviour.

It looked for a long time like it wouldn't happen but the late turnaround means Manchester United have now reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup more than often than any other team in the history of the competition (31 times).

Manchester United goalscorer Marcel Sabitzer speaking to ITV: "Massive win. We wanted to go back to Wembley, we did it. 1-0 down it was hard and tough but we came back and won it."

On if United won the game or Fulham lost it: "We won it. We scored three, they scored one. We were concentrated, focused until the end. I think it was a deserved win. We came back and that's the important thing."

On the penalty decision: "Haven't seen it. The referee said it so we go with it.

"I'm focused on the game. I've seen it. It was easier for us. We had to be focused on the game and the result."

On scoring his first goal at Old Trafford: "Massive. I'm so happy. An important one. I'm very, very happy now."