Malacia: Ten Hag asked me to take it easy on Antony in Man Utd training

Karan Tejwani

1 Oct 2022 09:25 CDT
3 min read

Manchester United had a busy transfer window, making six signings over the window and bringing in players to bolster Erik ten Hag’s team in his first season.

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The former Ajax boss targeted players who he knew well from the Eredivisie, bringing in talents such as Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Antony, who was the most expensive transfer of the summer.

Malacia is a combative left-back, known for his tenacity, and Ten Hag was keen to bring him in to provide competition for Luke Shaw down that side, and the player has impressed.

The Dutchman has now revealed that Ten Hag had some exclusive words of advice for him when Antony signed and the two trained together for the first time.

Malacia asked to calm down in training

Malacia grew up in Zuid, a part of Rotterdam where players are known for their roughness on the pitch, and Ten Hag recognised that early on, which is why he was eager to bring him to Manchester United.

When the Red Devils completed the big-money signing of Antony, Ten Hag asked Malacia to calm down to avoid injuring his new winger.

"I know I am not the tallest player in football, but people forget I am from Zuid," he explained to The Mirror. "In Zuid, we take care of our own business and fight our own battles.

"Ten Hag recognised that. When it was clear that Antony’s transfer to United was on and he was expected to come into the squad, the gaffer spoke to me about him.”

Back in Manchester 📍 pic.twitter.com/3GeT9F8wnn
— Tyrell Malacia (@TyrellMalaciia) September 27, 2022

Malacia then revealed what Ten Hag said to him with regards to the Brazilian: "It was just before Antony’s first training session at United. He said: ‘Please go easy on him, no more rough stuff.'

"On the streets of Zuid, I played many football games that ended in fights. But that was the way it was. Playing on the streets of Rotterdam, at the De Kuip Stadium or Old Trafford, I just love a battle."

Malacia and Antony were also rivals when they were playing in the Eredivisie as the left-back was at Feyenoord while the winger was at fierce rivals Ajax.

The two are now together at Manchester Untied, working towards a common cause and have made a strong start to their lives in the Premier League.