'Ten Hag thinks that Antony acts like an idiot'

Stuart Telford

• 7 Mar 2023 11:53 GMT
• 3 min read

Antony was one of a number of players posted missing as Manchester United were thrashed 7-0 by Liverpool on Sunday.

Antony was by no means the most guilty party as United suffered their heaviest defeat in nearly 100 years, with Bruno Fernandes singled out for particular criticism by pundits after a petulant display.

But Antony could have been lining up on the other side of that fixture, had he elected to join Jurgen Klopp's side last summer instead of continuing his development under his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.

READ: Man Utd star told to 'go back to the Eredivisie' by club legend

Liverpool had also scouted the winger last year, with a performance against Ajax's bitter rivals Feyenoord showing the best and worst of his game.

Antony scored a late winner in a 3-2 victory but was booked for taking his shirt off in celebration and picked up a second yellow card after full-time.

Former PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands winger Rene van der Gijp was left bemused.

READ: From Casemiro to Antony: Grading Man Utd's summer transfer business

Stinging appraisals

"Suppose we're in the stands together as a scout for Manchester City or Liverpool and we're looking at Antony, what do you think we would say when we come back on Monday?" he asked Vadaag Inside.

"We won't take that. You don't see a Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane or Mohamed Salah doing this. Then you can say, 'He's young'. But it can also get crazier."

Fellow former Dutch international Wim Kieft then added: "He's not that young anymore, because he's been doing this for two years. Such a boy can't be calmed by a coach, in the end.

"Ten Hag will of course never say that Antony behaves like an idiot, but he thinks so. In general, this behaviour is addressed in the locker room. Then someone says, 'Hey, what are you doing?'"

Antony has divided opinion since arriving at Old Trafford in a transfer which could climb to €100 million. Fans might have hoped for a better return than six goals from 27 games, but he has also found the target against Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona.