Erik ten Hag saluted Manchester United's "personality and determination" after they came from behind to beat nine-man Fulham 3-1 in a fiery FA Cup quarter-final.

The Red Devils reached their record-breaking 31st semi-final, with Bruno Fernandes' brace and a Marcel Sabitzer strike cancelling out Aleksandar Mitrovic's opener at Old Trafford.

The pendulum swung firmly in United's favour as the tie descended into chaos following Chris Kavanagh's decision to award the hosts a penalty 18 minutes from time.

After consulting VAR, and red-carding Fulham boss Marco Silva for his protests, Kavanagh sent off Willian for handling Jadon Sancho's shot on the line, while Mitrovic followed for getting too physical with the official.

United fully capitalised on their numerical advantage to book a semi-final date with Brighton and Hove Albion at Wembley, where they landed the EFL Cup crown with victory over Newcastle United last month.

"We are happy with the win. We showed great character," Ten Hag said. "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.

"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."

Sabitzer added: "We wanted to go back to Wembley, we did it. [At] 1-0 down, it was hard and tough, but we came back and won it. We were concentrated, focused until the end. I think it was a deserved win.

"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."

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw believes Kavanagh was spot on with his decisions to award the penalty, and subsequently dismiss Willian and Mitrovic.

"Obviously, I saw that moment and that action and to me straight away, I knew it was handball," he told MUTV. "I think the way he blocked it, the ball was going in, and it doesn't matter where his hands are.

"It has hit his arms, and he's stopped it. The referee made a good decision with that one. I think maybe a bit of frustration [showed for Mitrovic's red card] after they'd been so good, maybe a bit of anger that can only take a second.

"I think that happened and when they had two men sent off, it's a big mountain to climb, and thankfully we saw the game out."

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has won plenty of admirers with 13 goals and 15 assists for runaway Serie A leaders Napoli this season.

The 22-year-old Georgian joined Napoli in July 2022, penning a contract until 2027 for a for a reported fee of €10–12 million from Dinamo Batumi.

Kvaratskhelia has helped Napoli into the Champions League quarter-finals, while winning the Serie A's Player of the Month twice.

TOP STORY – PSG TO TABLE LUCRATIVE OFFER FOR NAPOLI STAR

Paris Saint-Germain are ready to go all-out and offer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia a whopping €180m deal, claims Le10Sport.

Real Madrid are also reportedly monitoring the winger's status although he has previously shown no interest in exiting Napoli. It has been claimed Napoli would not accept anything below €100m for their emerging star.

The lucrative deal is plausible given PSG hold the record for the two most expensive transfers in world football, signing Neymar for €222m in 2017 and Kylian Mbappe for €180m in 2018.

ROUND-UP

– Mundo Deportivo reports Borussia Dortmund have placed a bumper €125m (£110m) minimum price tag on midfielder Jude Bellingham as a long list of clubs chase his signature including Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.

– Manchester United are willing to pay the €50m (£44m) release clause in Ousmane Dembele's Barcelona contract as they look to sign the French winger, reports Fichajes. The report claims the Blaugrana may be open to that as they look to sort their financial challenges.

– Chelsea are interested in an off-season move for Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, reports Football Insider. The report claims Blues boss Graham Potter wants a new stopper, with Meslier seen as a cheaper option if Leeds go down. Fichajes claims Chelsea are keen on Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana to take over from Kepa Arrizabalaga.

– Newcastle United have revived their interest in Bayer Leverkusen pair Moussa Diaby and Mitchel Bakker claims 90min. Arsenal have been linked with Diaby in the past, with the French winger reportedly worth €70m (£62m).

– Juventus are still pushing to sign Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante as a free agent despite reports he will re-sign with the Blues, according to Calciomercato.

– The Mirror reports Manchester United are set to hand manager Erik ten Hag a new three-year extension, despite the ongoing uncertainty around the sale of the club.

Christian Eriksen is set to return from a long-term ankle injury next month, according to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

Eriksen sustained the injury after being on the wrong end of a hefty Andy Carroll tackle during United's 3-1 EFL Cup win over Reading on January 28.

The Denmark international had been expected to miss the bulk of the majority of the season, with initial hopes for an April or May return.

Ten Hag offered a positive update on the former Tottenham and Inter playmaker, who had been a central figure in their revival in the first half of the season.

"Yes, some point in April, he will be back," Ten Hag said. "He is doing really well, really good in his rehab.

"The progress is very good and we have to see how that develops in the coming weeks."

United have a busy upcoming fixture given their commitments across the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League, with nine games scheduled for April.

The Red Devils are currently third in the league in the race to clinch Champions League qualification, holding a three-point lead on fifth-placed Newcastle United.

The 31-year-old had made 29 appearances in all competitions this term for United, netting two goals with nine assists, including seven in the Premier League.

Despite not playing since January, Eriksen is still equal third with Mohamed Salah and Leandro Trossard for most league assists this term, behind Kevin De Bruyne (12) and Bukayo Saka (nine).

Bruno Fernandes (six) has the second-most Premier League assists this term for United, with Casemiro and Marcus Rashford both providing three.

Erik ten Hag is keeping his focus firmly on Manchester United's pursuit of further silverware even as he met prospective new owner Jim Ratcliffe on Friday.

Ratcliffe and his INEOS delegation arrived in Manchester for talks over a potential takeover of the club as the Glazer family looks to bring its time in charge to an end.

Ten Hag met the group but is not giving much thought to the possible change at the top, with United set to face Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

"I just met them and shook hands but I am focused on the game," Ten Hag told a pre-match press conference. 

"We play a big game on Sunday and all our focus is on that. Others in the club are dealing with potential investors.

"My job is focus on the game so let’s talk about the game Fulham, it is a big tie so let’s get ready for that."

United have been drawn against Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Sevilla have won the competition six times, more than any other club, prevailing in four of the last nine editions. Should United overcome them, they will face the winner of the tie between Juventus and Sporting CP, who knocked out Premier League leaders Arsenal in the last 16.

In short, United have been handed probably the most difficult route to the final.

"It is going to be tough, they are very experienced in the Europa League, won it so many times so I don’t know the team in detail but for me the most important is football and I don’t look forward to Seville," he added.

"First we have the international break and then three Premier League games so there is much time to focus on that, so definitely all the opponents who are coming to this stage of Europa League they are strong and you have to play your best football if you want to go through."

United's EFL Cup final win over Newcastle United at Wembley marked their first trophy since 2017, and Ten Hag believes that has whetted his side's appetite for more.

"We have to set a winning culture. We are Manchester United. We have to win all the games, we have to compete in all the leagues," said Ten Hag when asked about his team's mentality in the cup competitions. 

"That is the mentality. The mentality is when you go into a game you have to win it.

"Of course it [the prospect of returning to Wembley] is huge motivation. We enjoyed winning a trophy and it has to be the fuel for the next one and push for that idea and that has to bring extra energy to beat Fulham."

Manchester United great Andrew Cole expects Erik ten Hag to act decisively on Harry Maguire's future at the end of the season, having found a "brilliant" defensive duo in Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.

Maguire has struggled for regular minutes since Ten Hag took charge last year, only making five starts during an encouraging Premier League campaign for the Red Devils.

The defender – who was named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for games against Italy and Ukraine on Thursday – has been linked with an exit after seeing Varane and Martinez establish themselves as regulars.

Ten Hag has taken several big decisions since arriving at Old Trafford – not least to allow Cristiano Ronaldo's departure – and Cole expects him to be similarly firm with Maguire.

Asked about Maguire's future, Cole told Stats Perform: "That's ultimately down to the manager. I think Manchester United for many years have really struggled to find defensive partnerships. 

"If you look at the money they've spent on centre-halves… Maguire, [Victor] Lindelof, [Eric] Bailly, obviously Varane and Martinez now.

"That's five, and if you look at the money they've spent, it's easily over £200million on centre-halves. I think now they've finally got a partnership which looks right. 

"For Maguire, it has been difficult. He struggled at the backend of last season, went to the World Cup and did well, came back and struggled at Manchester United. 

"The manager has made a decision to go with these two, Varane and Martinez, who have been absolutely brilliant."

On Ten Hag's style of management, Cole added: "With the way football is now, it's about managing people.

"You're managing and massaging egos, that's what football is about. 

"It's not like you can treat every individual the same. They're not all the same, some react to things better than others.

"From the outside looking in, it looks like he [Ten Hag] is very disciplined. The players respect him, he respects the players and he is getting the best out of them, that's what you want."

United face Real Betis in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, before a home Premier League match against Fulham on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag ruled out rotating his Manchester United squad for their Europa League second leg at Real Betis despite a testing schedule.

United head away to their LaLiga opponents on Thursday with a 4-1 advantage at the halfway point in their last-16 tie.

With a comfortable three-goal cushion and an FA Cup quarter-final with Fulham to come on Sunday, there had been suggestions Ten Hag would alter his XI.

But the Dutchman said he would name what he considers his strongest team for the clash, intending to treat the match with the respect he believes it deserves.

"It is always serious," he said. "We will play our best team. We have to put up a team that can adapt during the game.

"We know our opponent can, as they have really good players. We have to be ready to battle with them."

There is an added risk with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who would be suspended if they were booked in Spain. Casemiro is already banned from domestic action.

But Ten Hag said: "They will play, both. It is a very good opponent. We need to go again. We need our best players and our best team."

United will be without several of their attacking talents for the trip, however, with Antony out through illness and Alejandro Garnacho ruled out with an ankle injury sustained against Southampton.

The teenager looks set to face a prolonged absence, with Ten Hag adding: "I can't say exactly [when he will be back]. It will take weeks, it is a serious injury."

The manager remained irate over the challenge from Saints full-back Kyle Walker-Peters that sidelined his player, although he assured Garnacho will return before the end of the season.

"Once again, after Christian Eriksen, we have a serious injury after a contact," Ten Hag said. "He will be back before the end of the season. We need to get him back as soon as possible, and we hope he is ready."

Manchester United will not appeal against a four-game domestic ban given to Casemiro after his red card against Southampton, with Raphael Varane backing them to cope in his absence.

A VAR review saw Casemiro shown a straight red card for a forceful challenge on Carlos Alcaraz during the first half of Sunday's goalless draw at Old Trafford.

The midfielder was also sent off in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace last month, making him the first United player to receive two red cards in a single Premier League season since Nemanja Vidic in 2013-14.

His second dismissal of the campaign means he must serve a four-match domestic suspension, missing Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham as well as league meetings with Newcastle United, Brentford and Everton.

Erik ten Hag questioned Casemiro's dismissal after Sunday's game, claiming the 31-year-old is "tough but fair" and labelling the decision "debatable".  

On Monday, however, United confirmed they would not launch an appeal against the Brazilian's suspension, having determined "there was not a high chance of being able to overturn the ban".

United have suffered as many defeats in seven Premier League games without Casemiro (W3 D1) as in 19 (W12 D4) with the former Real Madrid man this term, while their win rate drops from 63.2 per cent to 42.9 per cent in his absence.

Varane, however, believes the depth of their squad will now come to the fore, saying: "He's a player who is very important for us. He brings balance to the team and to the squad. 

"But we have a great squad and we have to find another balance without him. We have good players in every position on the pitch and we are ready for the next games.

"I think he was very disappointed because nobody wants to be off the pitch before the end. We can't be happy with the decision he [the referee] takes but that's part of football." 

Casemiro will be available when United travel to Real Betis for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, after the Red Devils posted a 4-1 win in the first fixture at Old Trafford last week.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was not particularly concerned about the injury suffered by Alejandro Garnacho on Sunday despite him requiring crutches as he left Old Trafford.

Garnacho was introduced in the second half of United's 0-0 draw with Southampton and went down hurt during the latter stages under a challenge from Kyle Walker-Peters.

The Southampton defender won the ball on the stretch in the penalty area, but Garnacho's right ankle appeared to get trapped between Walker-Peters' legs.

Garnacho looked to be in agony but managed to play on until he was withdrawn in stoppage time as Ten Hag sought to bolster 10-man United at the back.

He was subsequently spotted leaving the stadium with the support of crutches.

"He was a little bit limping after the bad tackle," Ten Hag told reporters.

"In the end they brought on another striker, a big and tall one [Paul Onuachu] and I don't want to go for risk, we were already downsized to 10 [men].

"I didn't want to go with players who were [just] 90 per cent [fit]. That's why I called him off, but I think it is not too bad."

United are next in action on Thursday as they go to Seville to face Real Betis in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

They take a 4-1 aggregate lead to the Benito Villamarin after a comprehensive win at Old Trafford in the first leg.

Erik ten Hag bemoaned a lack of consistency in refereeing decisions after he was left frustrated by the performance of Anthony Taylor in Manchester United's draw with Southampton on Sunday.

United could only scrape a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford after Casemiro was shown a straight red card in the first half – the Brazilian given his marching orders for a tough challenge on Carlos Alcaraz.

Taylor initially showed Casemiro a yellow card, but it was upgraded to a red following a VAR review, leaving the United midfielder clearly despondent after replays showed he won the ball before catching Alcaraz.

It means Casemiro is the first United player to receive two red cards in a single Premier League season since Nemanja Vidic in 2013-14, and he will serve a ban of four matches rather than three due to it being his second dismissal.

The tackle was not too dissimilar to an incident on Saturday when Ricardo Pereira caught Joao Felix with his studs and escaped punishment entirely, and this is the crux of Ten Hag's frustration, having also seen a couple of penalty appeals fall on deaf ears.  

"What I think is the inconsistency; players don't know anymore what is the policy, and I think it's all across [every competition]," Ten Hag told reporters.

"We see it with the Premier League yesterday: Leicester-Chelsea, the VAR is not coming online. Today, it's coming online.

"And then it's two penalty situations, but they don't come online. Especially the first one, it was clear and obvious handball, so what is the policy?"

Ten Hag was asked if he sought that clarification from Taylor afterwards, though he was seemingly dissatisfied with the outcome.

"Of course, we talk but not a lot, so some questions we [still] have," he continued.

"There's another one: inconsistent. The referee is coming in the start of the season with a policy; we are [in the] Premier League, it's coming strong here, we want intensity [in the play]."

Ten Hag also feels the slow-motion and freeze-frame nature of VAR reviews does not help because he believes it makes everything look worse than in reality.

"Everyone who knows something about football, and of course, when you freeze it, it looks bad," Ten Hag said. "But everyone who knows something about football, who was acting on top football, they know what is bad, what isn't bad and what is fair.

"And I tell you: Casemiro is a really fair player. Tough but fair.

"Casemiro is across European games, over 500 games he never had a [straight] red card. Now he has two.

"Think about that. He plays tough, but he plays fair. And also in this, he's playing fair, same as against Crystal Palace, so it's very debatable.

"And if they isolate one [incident] – it's a little bit the same as against Crystal Palace, definitely.

"When you saw that incident, you should have sent off three or four players and not only one [Casemiro], if you're really consistent."

Manchester United must continue to showcase their resilience as the season heads towards its conclusion, Erik ten Hag has urged.

A 7-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool last Sunday attracted vast criticism but did not hinder United in their Europa League exploits, securing a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash.

The second-half display was decisive against the Spanish side, having seen Betis equalise against the run of play, which Ten Hag felt highlighted the squad's character.

Such spirit has been present on a number of occasions for United this season, and manager Ten Hag is keen for more of the same against Southampton as the Red Devils seek to nail down third spot.

"I think when the season goes to the end, it's going to be even more difficult for every team, because the pressure will be higher and higher," he said.

"So, you need character, you need determination, you need the resilience, you need a team with personalities, and I think we already showed now several times in the season, this team can deal with setbacks.

"[Against Real Betis] we have seen an example but before as well after Brentford, for instance, after Arsenal we bounced back, after [Manchester] City we bounced back.

"Now, I will say this [win over Betis] is part one, because Sunday has to come another one, but I think this team can rely on that, that they can bounce back, but it demands a lot of energy and a lot of togetherness, from a lot of players to get the performance."

Erik ten Hag is happy for Bruno Fernandes to keep playing with emotion, although he acknowledges there is a balance to strike for the Manchester United midfielder.

Fernandes scored in United's 4-1 win against Real Betis on Thursday having been the subject of intense scrutiny since Sunday's 7-0 loss at Liverpool.

The United vice-captain, who wore the armband at Anfield, was criticised for his role in a defeat in which Ten Hag's side appeared to lack leadership.

A confrontation with Trent Alexander-Arnold, followed by a push on an official, perhaps saw Fernandes fortunate not to be sent off.

Both Ten Hag and Marcus Rashford defended Fernandes ahead of the Betis game, however, and the manager was encouraged by his subsequent performance, even if there is still work to do to "stay rational" at all times.

"I was very pleased with his captaincy because he is giving the team energy," Ten Hag said ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Southampton.

"He is not only giving the best physical output of the whole team, but also he is running in the right direction and is pointing players in that direction. He's coaching players, leading the team from a tactical perspective.

"His emotion is his weapon. But sometimes it's too strong. And yes, of course, I help him and support him. And I give him feedback.

"Sometimes he has to control his emotions, and that will help him to stay rational in the game, instead of the emotion.

"So, he has to find the balance and be rational, when to use [being] rational as a tool and when to use emotion as a tool, and that's the next step.

"I think that's a nice development point for him, and when he does it, he will be an even better player."

Meanwhile, Ten Hag offered an update on Christian Eriksen, who was ruled out for "an extended period" at the end of January due to an ankle injury.

"I think he will play [again this season], yes, definitely," Ten Hag said. "But I can't say now when [he is] expected.

"I think his progress in the rehab is okay. It's going according to plan and so we will definitely see him, but not before the international break.

"His main focus at this moment is to get back as soon as possible because we need all the players."

Erik ten Hag has been named the Premier League's Manager of the Month for February, completing a Manchester United double after Marcus Rashford scooped the monthly players' award.

Ten Hag oversaw a return of 10 points from four Premier League games for United last month, with a 2-2 draw at home to Leeds United the only blot on their record.

As well as beating Crystal Palace and Leicester City, United improved on that Leeds draw by beating their rivals 2-0 in the return fixture at Elland Road four days later.

Ten Hag's side also carried their league form into other competitions in February, ending a near six-year trophy drought by beating Newcastle United to lift the EFL Cup and eliminating Barcelona from the Europa League.

Having also received the award last September, Ten Hag's second monthly prize brings him level with other two-time winners including Kenny Dalglish, Roberto Mancini and Thomas Tuchel. 

While United enjoyed an excellent February, March began with the joint-heaviest competitive defeat in their illustrious history as they were hammered 7-0 by Liverpool at Anfield.

Having bounced back with a 4-1 Europa League win over Real Betis on Thursday, United welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Sunday, looking to extend an 11-match unbeaten streak at home in the Premier League (W9 D2).

Erik ten Hag hailed Manchester United's character after a 4-1 victory over Real Betis got his side back on track.

Not hindered by the humiliating result against Liverpool on Sunday, United bounced back at Old Trafford to take command of their Europa League round of 16 tie.

Marcus Rashford, Antony, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst were on target in a dominant win that put one foot in the quarter-finals and lifted the club's spirits.

Given the pressure heading into the game, Ten Hag felt the performance showed once again the team can respond to setbacks.

"I think we played a very good game. At half time, we should have been up 3-0, but it was 1-1, we made one mistake and were punished for it, but I think we played well," he told BT Sport.

"We scored good goals, it was a good performance, it gave something to the fans, and they gave us something back as well, they were behind us and we're very grateful after Sunday.

"There was a good attitude from the start, we were on the front foot and we were good on the ball, finding the spare man in midfield and making good switches, making good runs behind and creating a lot of chances, so we are happy today.

"You always have to see how a team reacts after a setback and this is not the first time this season, I think it's five or six times, we can reset, we can bounce back, this team has character."

Erik ten Hag has given his Manchester United players the chance to make amends for Sunday's annihilation at Liverpool by naming an unchanged XI for the visit of Real Betis.

United suffered the joint-worst competitive defeat in their history at Anfield, losing 7-0 as they found themselves on the end of a second-half blitz.

Ten Hag's men had arguably been the more threatening side in the first half, but after going into the interval a goal down, they capitulated in spectacular fashion and Liverpool ran riot.

Thursday's Europa League last-16 first leg provides United with the opportunity respond to that embarrassment, and Ten Hag surprisingly resisted the urge the drop any of those involved in Sunday's debacle.

David de Gea, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Luke Shaw were the targets of particularly stinging criticism for their performances against the Reds, though they all kept their places.

Wout Weghorst also attracted the wrath of supporters after it emerged he touched the 'This Is Anfield' sign in the tunnel before kick-off, a gesture generally associated with Liverpool players rather than their opponents.

The Dutchman claimed he was trying to wind up international colleague Virgil van Dijk by preventing him from touching the sign. Weghorst also retained his place.

Betis – coached by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini – will be hoping to pile the misery on for United.

The Andalusians have had injury problems of late, however, with the talismanic figures of Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales both absent.

Ex-City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was named between the posts, while Ayoze Perez – on loan from Leicester City – was selected in attack alongside Betis' 41-year-old captain Joaquin.

Anthony Martial continued his recovery from injury as he took part in training alongside his Manchester United team-mates ahead of Thursday's Europa League fixture with Real Betis. 

The France forward has not started a game for the Red Devils since January 14 when he was forced off with a hip injury at half-time during United's 2-1 victory against rivals Manchester City.

Martial did make a cameo appearance in February during the EFL Cup against Nottingham Forest and scored in the second leg of that semi-final tie, but has not featured for Erik ten Hag's side since.

Having resumed light training in February, the 27-year-old completed his first full training session on Wednesday at Carrington as United prepare for the opening leg of their last-16 tie against Betis. 

However, Thursday's tie with the Spanish club - managed by former City boss Manuel Pellegrini - will come too soon for Martial, Ten Hag confirmed.

Speaking at a press conference, he said: "We have a strong programme [of fixtures], but I think we are quite good.

"The only disappointment is Marcel Sabitzer is not available, as well as Anthony Martial.

"Anthony Martial is back on the pitch, so we will see [when he can return]. For the rest, everyone is available and we are ready for the game.''

Martial has six goals in all competitions this season but has played just 14 games in total due to various back, Achilles and hip injuries. 

Ten Hag's side welcome Betis to Old Trafford on Thursday in the Europa League as they look to bounce back from their humiliating 7-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League.