Video footage from Manchester United’s thrilling FA Cup victory over Liverpool in extra time has surfaced, capturing Antony’s annoyance at being asked to play left back.
Harvey Elliott put Liverpool back ahead at 3-2, and the Brazilian, who had just scored the thrilling late equalizer to force extra time, was moved into an unaccustomed position.
A new video has surfaced that depicts Antony’s annoyance and confusion when Erik ten Hag asks him to fill in at left back during the second half of extra time in Man United’s thrilling victory.
Following the tactical change, Marcus Rashford had to step in and soothe the agitated Brazilian.
Antony had earlier made it 2-2 and forced extra time with a spectacular late equalizer.
In an attempt to win the match and his team’s hopes of taking home a trophy this season, United manager Erik ten Hag went all out offensive, substituting midfielder Mason Mount for defender Victor Lindelof.
Due to this, there was a tactical rearrangement that saw Bruno Fernandes replace Antony at left back and Harry Maguire at center half. Mount, Scott McTominay, and Christian Eriksen were positioned in midfield behind Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Amad Diallo, who was the game-winning player.
In the halftime of extra time, Antony breaks away from Ten Hag’s team talk and makes a “mind blown” motion before looking incredulously at his manager in a video shot from the stands.
Then, as he turns to go, he pouts and needs to be told to get over it by Eriksen and Rashford. Before Antony complains to Rashford once more, even goalie Andre Onana arrives to sort things out.
The Brazilian then gives the bench one more angry wave and sulks before Liverpool start the second overtime period.
Surprisingly, Ten Hag’s unconventional strategies worked as intended, as United defeated their fierce rivals 4-3 thanks to goals from Rashford and Amad to advance to the semi-finals.
As he stated afterward, “Sacrifice, sacrifice, when the coach said that, we find it a bit strange, but sacrificing for the group, sacrificing for the team, that’s fine with me,” Antony’s perspective was obviously changed by the game’s happy outcome.
The £85 million winger had only scored once this season, in the FA Cup run against League Two Newport County, before to Sunday. It has been a difficult season for him.
But when Antony entered the game at Old Trafford to replace Rasmus Hojlund after 71 minutes, he immediately began the process of making apologies. He forced extra time with United’s equalizer at 2-2.
However, Elliott’s deflected shot handed Liverpool the lead once more midway through extra time, leaving United looking helpless.
Ten Hag’s squad persisted, and after McTominay had put him up, Rashford finished coolly in the 112th minute from the bottom corner.
The Brazilian was obviously annoyed by Ten Hag’s insistence that he play defense far into extra time.
Antony needed assistance from United goalkeeper Andre Onana to move into the proper position.
The £85 million forward is hoping that his game-winning goal would turn things around for him at Manchester United.
Then, with penalties imminent, young winger Amad won the match by capping a breakaway attack that Garnacho had set up.
Amad then took off his top to celebrate and was dismissed for a second bookable offense.
United held firm to shatter Liverpool’s hopes of earning a quadruple in manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season and secure a Wembley semifinal matchup against Championship team Coventry City the following month.
Ten Hag stated, “It’s very important for him,” to beIN Sports. He had such difficulty. First of all, he was not himself, and that is his fault.
He subsequently lost self-assurance, thus he must now fight back. He has been back for the past two weeks, as we can see.
During training, I recognize the same Antony that I worked with during my time at Ajax and during my initial weeks here.
He needs to fight back, and since you’ve witnessed the end result, I have no doubt that he will.
But not just in the objective. When he assumes the left full-back position, he plays excellent defense. He is able to play from that side in some systems.
“Do not misunderstand; he is not a defending player; his goal-scoring ability has been demonstrated.”
Manchester United will play two away games in London following the international break against Brentford and Chelsea, followed by a matchup with Liverpool at Old Trafford on April 7.