A Manchester United coach's reaction before Joshua Zirkzee penalty summed up their season

"We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ley," a fan optimistically sang before the penalty shootout. They won't this season.

Darren Fletcher was on his way indoors as Joshua Zirkzee shaped up to take the final kick. Zirkzee won it against Arsenal in the third round but lost it in the fifth. United fans still sang his name as he buried his head in his shirt.

Zirkzee has five goals for United. Their attack has been halved since the August. Little wonder they struggle to hit the back of the net, even from 12 yards. Or that a first-team coach knows the score with the team that struggles to score.

The damage was done by Victor Lindelof's tame take with the fourth kick. Lindelof decided the semi-final shootout against Brighton in 2023 but that was in sudden death. Alejandro Garnacho was a far more logical option.

A centre back stepping up rather typified the toothlessness of this United side on a day their £72million striker was replaced by a 17-year-old. And Chido Obi was an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle were all out of the FA Cup come kick-off. United were not be in the velvet bag for the post-match draw at Old Trafford, either.

It has felt Europa League or bust at the club for several months and that is official now their defence of the FA Cup has ended. Not even Fulham, beaten twice by United in the Premier League, could lose three times to the worst United side in 51 years.

There was appreciative applause from the United fans as the players skulked around the pitch at full-time. A rallying cry of 'United, United, United' coincided with the start of the second half in extra time. It was 'Oh United, we love you' as they waited for the shootout coin-toss.

Matt