Antony seemed quite upset when Erik ten Hag proposed he fill in as a left-back for Manchester United, a situation that required Marcus Rashford’s intervention.
Manchester United clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup, with the decisive goal coming in the dying moments of extra time. Antony’s goal in the 86th minute equalized the match at 2-2, pushing it into extra time.
In a bid to find an equalizer within the regular 90 minutes, Ten Hag introduced several attacking players, leaving the team unbalanced. This tactical shift forced him to assign players to unusual roles, resulting in Antony taking up the left-back position.
Antony’s reaction was one of clear disbelief as he left the group discussion, gesturing animatedly. He then approached Rashford, who seemed to calm him down and encourage him to contribute to the team’s effort in this unexpected role.
Despite his initial reluctance, Ten Hag commended Antony’s performance, especially noting his defensive efforts. This came as a surprise since Antony has had a challenging season influencing matches.
Ten Hag appreciated how Antony adapted, contributing to United’s improvised defense that also saw Bruno Fernandes in an uncustomary defensive role.
“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 told beIN Sports.
“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.”
Manchester United is set to clash with Coventry City in the semi-finals, with Ten Hag’s team aiming for back-to-back FA Cup final appearances.
Amid a season marked by ups and downs, the Dutch manager views the triumph over Liverpool as a pivotal turning point that could shape the remainder of their campaign.
