Manchester United are lucky Erik ten Hag didn't get his £80million transfer wish last summer

There could not have been a greater contrast as Rasmus Hojlund's penalty rippled the net and sent Manchester United to the FA Cup Final.

Antony, the epitome of everything wrong with Erik ten Hag's side, cupped his ear as if he had brought his side back from three-goals down to win the game on his own, rather than come on at 3-0 up and done nothing else of note under the Wembley arch.

Harry Maguire, the much-maligned former United captain, immediately went to shake the hand of every Coventry player. He knew United had got away with one against Championship opponents and looked almost embarrassed that they had won.

A lot is made of the 'standards', or lack of them at Old Trafford in recent years. Those signed by Ten Hag have rarely looked up to the standards of the club, while Maguire, a player Ten Hag was willing to sell last summer, has maintained them this season.

It must be said, this is by no means a dig at Bruno Fernandes or a claim he shouldn't be captain. It is a reminder that for all his flaws, Maguire has remained a consummate professional throughout his United struggles and proven why he was the club captain in the first-place.

Ten Hag was still correct to officially appoint Fernandes as the club captain last summer, not only to relieve the scrutiny on £80 million signing Maguire, but mainly because the centre-back was no longer a key player in the squad. In an ideal world, he still wouldn't be. Ten Hag had hoped to call upon a settled centre-back pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane all season, yet due to injuries it is Maguire who has played the most minutes of any central defender at the club this campaign.

That in itself is perhaps the biggest compliment you can give the 31-year-old. Of all the talents, availability is the best ability. He might not be the archetypal Ten Hag defender, but he is the only one he can rely upon every week to be there for his side.

While there are still doubts over his long-term suitability to a United side that wants to play progressive football from the back, the dogged nature of their campaign and defensive frailties have given him the chance to shine at his very best. Even in poor recent team performances he has been one of the standout players and has rarely seemed fazed by the chaos around him.

United will once again look to move on from Maguire when they target at least one centre-back in the summer transfer window, but when it comes to player sales there is now more of a compelling case to keep him around rather than look to move him on.

So often painted unfairly as calamitous caricature of everything wrong with United in recent years, in recent weeks his pride and professionalism has shone while others have embarrassed themselves.

He might not be the captain, but he is still one of the few leaders they have.