Antony: Erik ten Hag Goes Jadon Sancho Route, Sends Warning to Manchester United Star

Antony: Erik ten Hag Goes Jadon Sancho Route, Sends Warning to Manchester United Star

Martin Moses
updated at February 25, 2024 at 5:13 AM
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  • Erik ten Hag has brutally admitted Antony isn't up to the expected levels yet
  • The Brazilian is yet to dazzle since joining the Red Devils in the summer of 2022
  • Ten Hag fell out with Jadon Sancho after levelling similar criticism on the winger

Erik ten Hag has warned Antony that he risks getting overlooked in squad selections if he doesn't step up.

The winger has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford. He is yet to convince fully since making the big-money switch from Ajax last summer.

Antony, Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, Jadon Sancho
Antony warms up on the touchline during Manchester United's game against Fulham on February 24. Photo by Ash Donelon.
Source: Getty Images

The Brazilian has only registered one goal and one assist in his last 25 games, forcing ten Hag to drop him to the bench. Alejandro Garnacho has, of late, become the first-choice on the left wing, leaving Antony to contend with a few minutes off the bench.

Ten Hag thoughts on Antony

Ten Hag has now offered an explanation why his former player at Ajax is getting the going tough at Old Trafford.

"He has to prove a point that he will do. And he has big potential. He hasn't shown it lately, but I know what his talent is, and it's about proving his talent, and it's about him," he said, as quoted by 90MIN.

The Dutch tactician further warned the 24-year-old that competition for places will become stiffer given that Amad Diallo and Omari Forson are bidding their time on the sidelines.

"You have competition, and now he has to show himself on the training pitch, but also others because we have choices there."

Antony barely touched the ball in their 2-1 loss to Fulham after he was introduced off the bench in the 99th minute. Forson made his first Premier League start while Diallo was brought on in the 80th minute. The loss, coupled up with Aston Villa's 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest, widens the gap between Manchester United and fourth place to eight points on the Premier League table.

Manchester United plans clear-out sale

The public criticism comes months after ten Hag fell out with Jadon Sancho after he slammed the England intern national for not giving his all in training sessions.

Sancho fired back in a social media message that was later pulled down but never mended fences with the manager.

Sports Brief has since reported that Sancho is among the 11 players Manchester United is planning to sell in the summer to make room for new signings under the new ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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