Not what he had in mind
Footage of Antony incensed at Erik ten Hag asking him to play left back in Sunday’s FA Cup win against Liverpool has gone viral.
Antony came off the bench to score a late goal and take Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter final game to extra time.
Harvey Elliot restored the away side’s lead which prompted Ten Hag to make a tactical tweak.
After bringing Mason Mount on to replace Victor Lindelof, the United boss asked Antony to play left back as he looked for a way back into the tie.
After confirming the tweaks, which even saw Bruno Fernandes move into the centre back role alongside Harry Maguire, Antony lost his cool.
A video captured from the stands showed the Brazilian was fuming with the decision, looking on at Ten Hag in disbelief before Marcus Rashford intervened to try and calm him down.
Ten Hag’s tactics pay off
Despite cutting an angry figure, Antony did get on with the game and it turned out Ten Hag’s tactics worked out all along as United scored a dramatic late winner via Amad Diallo.
Asked about the performance at the end, the winger clearly had a more positive outlook after United secured the win.
He said: “Sacrifice, sacrifice, when the coach said that, we find it a bit strange, but sacrificing for the group, sacrificing for the team, that’s fine with me.”
Is Antony’s time now?
It’s been a difficult time for the £86m signing from Ajax, especially this season.
Sunday’s strike was just his second of the season having scored against Newport County earlier in the year but looked the sharpest he’s been in a while at Old Trafford, which could be the catalyst to finally justifying his hefty price tag.
Ten Hag has also continuously backed the winger and after the game, told beIN Sports: “It’s very important for him. He struggled so much. First part, he was not himself, he’s responsible for that.
“And then he lost confidence, and now he has to fight back. We see through the last two weeks, he’s returning.
“I see in training, I see the Antony I was used to work with at Ajax, and also used to work in the first weeks here.
“He has to fight back, and I’m sure he will do, because you’ve seen that goal.
“But not only in the goal. When he’s going to left full-back position, he’s defending very well. In certain systems, he can play from that side.
“He’s not a defending player, don’t get me wrong, because we have seen, he can score goals.”
Related links:
- Roy Keane sends Liverpool timely reminder after Man United’s dramatic win
- Man United vs Liverpool: Follow the FA Cup clash in our live hub
- Former Man United star on when Alex Ferguson ‘went for him’ after heated dressing room row
