Manchester United dominated Sheriff Tiraspol in their Europa League fixture at home as they secured a 3-0 win, sending them to the knockouts of the competition. However, it is the United winger Antony who has grabbed all the headlines, despite playing only 45 minutes and producing nothing during those. But he did pull out his trademark ‘720 degree spin’, only to hit the ball out of the play for a goal-kick. His move has left fans and pundits enraged, which had no end product.
Moreover, it was his manager Erik ten Hag as well who not pleased with the 22-year-old’s antics. United spent a mammoth fee of £86 million to acquire Antony from Ajax this summer after a lot of drama which saw the winger go on a strike at the Dutch club. While he finally sealed his move to the ‘Theater of Dreams’, Antony has got a reality check at the club. After initial glimpses of some silky football, the Brazilian has only managed 3 goals and 0 assists in 11 games for the Red Devils in all competitions. And now he faced the wrath of his manager, who straight away subbed him off at the half-time after his needless ‘spin’ skill.
Ten Hag labels Antony change as tactical and not out of rage
United went into the half-time against Sheriff with a 1-0 lead, thanks to Diogo Dalot’s goal. A game where the Red Devils were walking over their opponents, Antony looked quite off the pace on the right flank. By the first 45 minutes came to an end, the winger only had a shot on target, a chance created and zero successful dribbles and crosses to show, on top of being dispossessed twice. However, the highlight of Antony from the first-half was his spin which he pulled out of the hat in the 38t minute, and overhit a subsequent pass which went out for a goal-kick.
Ten Hag’s long face after his £86 million player’s showboating said it all as he put Marcus Rashford on for Antony for a half-time substitution. The United boss in known for his no-nonsense approach at the club, which was highlighted after he left Cristiano Ronaldo out of his squad for the Chelsea game following the forward’s tantrums during the Spurs game. Many claimed it was further amplified after the Dutchman subbed-off Antony at the half-time against Sheriff for his unnecessary ‘skill’. However, after being quizzed if the spin had anything to do with Antony’s substitution, Ten Hag refuted those claims as he told BT Sport:
“No, no. It was more or less planned. If we were [winning], I wanted to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford close together, that was one of the reasons. Also to bring another dynamic over to the right side. I thought over the left side Alejandro Garnacho was playing quite well and he had a real threat in his actions, really good tempo dribbles, so that was good to see. So it [Antony’s withdrawal] was more or less planned.
“I don’t have a problem with that [showcasing skills] as long as it’s functional and he’s not losing the ball, he’s attracting players then it’s ok. So from him I demand more: more runs in behind, more often in the box, more tempo dribbles especially and more playing in the pocket., and when there is a trick like that, it’s nice as long as it’s functional. But that was a trick [for a trick’s sake] and I will correct him.”
Manchester United now need to focus on their penultimate group game in the competition, as they travel to Spain next week to face Real Sociedad. After taking a 1-0 beating at home against the Basque club, Ten Hag’s team needs to beat them with a goal difference of two or more in order to finish top of their group. A second place finish will rather send United to the play-offs where they will have to face either of the 8 teams dropping down from the Champions league to make it through to the quarterfinals.