gameManchester United boss Erik ten Hag has expressed his full support to misfiring winger Antony, who has recently faded away after some glimpses of sparkling displays. Antony became Ten Hag’s most expensive signing at United as the club paid a whopping £85m for his acquisition from Ajax in the summer. While he did announce himself in style, scoring on his debut against Arsenal, Antony has since only managed 3 goals across in 11 Premier League games.
His overall tally too isn’t impressive, with the Brazilian scoring just 5 goals and zero assists in 19 games in all competitions. Antony has recently received a lot of backlash from fans and pundits, with fingers right away being pointed towards his price tag of £85m. And another dismal outing for the winger against Arsenal where United lost 3-2 wasn’t easy as well for the club fans to take.
Ten Hag wants Antony to be ‘more direct and involved’
Antony has got the skills and tricks, which however are not paying at the moment. The 22-year-old isn’t racking up the numbers he was used to at Ajax under Ten Hag. While there has been a shortage of goals, what’s more shocking is that the expensive signing hasn’t managed a single assist across 19 games. However, Ten Hag feels his team is doing well with the Brazilian in the starting XI, but needs him to be ‘more direct’. He told reporters:
“When he [Antony] is playing, the team is winning. That already gives a message of how well he is performing. He can do better, I see space for improvement. For instance, and I think also you know this, we want him to be more direct and be more involved. But, as I said, the team is performing better if he is on the pitch.
“That’s a good thing, that’s a good base to build further. I think he has already made an improvement. In his first three [league] games, he scored three goals. Now he was scoring against Everton, he was scoring against Charlton, so also that fact, he has an impact. But I think with his capabilities, with his talents, he can do even more. But as I said, I think he has [made] a good contribution in the team.”
Furthermore, Ten Hag, who was previewing his side’s Nottingham Forest clash in the League Cup semifinals, also dismissed that there still is a rift between Antony and Bruno Fernandes. The two had a verbal spat on field during United’s mid-week game against Crystal Palace last week which ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Michael Olise scoring a last-minute equalizer. Speaking of the spat, Ten Hag said:
“I think that can happen. They are both players who play with the heart and, when they bring that in the game, they are on their best so it’s always a kind of balance. And always between players, sometimes emotions flare up but I think, in the second moment, they are already good with each other so that is not a problem. I think definitely the players are not frustrated with him.”
Antony will be in contention to start against Forest as United aim to take a hefty first-leg lead in their bid to qualify for the final. The Brazil international has a perfect chance to revive his ailing season with fixtures coming thick and fast. Meanwhile, Manchester United are also eyeing to win their first trophy since 2017, and this all important semifinal against Forest could help them break their jinx.