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Ten Hag believes Antony will find his form, admitting that the Brazil winger is a ‘fighter’.
Manchester United’s start to the season has been disrupted. Injuries. Off-field issues. Club ownership problems. It’s not an excuse when it’s something that will genuinely affect the whole club.
Erik ten Hag should be given some leeway with all that’s going on. For me, he still has credit in the bank, though it is starting to run somewhat lower than it was a few weeks ago.
Perhaps one mistake that people can question him for is the signing of Antony. When all is said and done, the man from Brazil could cost the club in excess of £100m. Obviously, he hasn’t come close to justifying that with his overall output.
Last season, it felt like United played better with him in the team at times, though he rarely showed up in the goals/assists department. This year, he has been pretty tragic. Obviously, not helped by the fact that he’s dealing with a legal situation.
However, Ten Hag has backed the United star, adding that he believes he remains the ‘right player’ for the club despite those struggles.
When speaking about Antony, Ten Hag said:
“I’m a fighter and Antony is also a fighter, he has the confidence”.
“He is brave and I am confident he will bring the performance that he is the right player for us”. Ten Hag told the media, including Fabrizio Romano.
I have to admit, I’m genuinely concerned about Antony. The performances have been pretty abject. He does not have the pace to beat a man, nor is he two-footed enough to go down the byline and cross a ball in. That makes him super predictable.
I do agree that Antony is a fighter. If you read about his upbringing, you’ll fully understand why. The question is, can his limited ability help him overcome these struggles? Will he improve that dramatically over a short period of time? I find it hard to say he will.
One thing is for sure, the off-field issues are not helping. Once they’re resolved, I believe we’ll start seeing better displays but even then, I’m not fully convinced it’s enough.
Do you think Antony will prove to be a good signing for Man United? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
