Ten Hag sends clear message to Antony as £86m winger faces Man Utd crossroads (original) (raw)
Antony will be hoping for a first start this season when Manchester United face Barnsley in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening at Old Trafford
Antony has struggled for consistency since arriving in Manchester
Erik ten Hag has told Antony he must “earn the right” to start for Manchester United.
Antony is the second most expensive signing in United's history at £86million, behind £89m club record signing Paul Pogba.
But the Brazil star has underwhelmed in two seasons at United and has played just one minute this season – as an 89th minute substitute in a 2-1 defeat at Brighton.
The winger will be hoping to make his first start of the season tomorrow in United's third round Carabao Cup tie at home to League One Barnsley.
But Ten Hag warned Antony – who is currently being kept out of the United line-up by Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo – he has to prove himself worthy of a starting place.
“Tomorrow you will see what the line-up will be,” said Ten Hag, when asked about Antony's predicament.
“We have training every day and the players have to earn the right. When the attitude is good and show performances in training, then they will play.”
Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup in his first season at United, ending the club's six-year wait for a trophy, and followed that up with the FA Cup last term.
Against that backdrop, Ten Hag said he puts great importance by the Carabao Cup and will do all he can to lift the trophy at Wembley again.
“It’s about winning trophies but I don’t talk only about this, you guys are talking about how we have to win,” said Ten Hag.
“So no doubt we're aiming for a trophy and we take it seriously.
Ten Hag insists he is not taking the Carabao Cup lightly (
Image:
Getty Images)
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“I wouldn’t say they are insignificant, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. They’re significant. I see the attention from all the teams, all the owners, all the managers, when they win the trophies like Liverpol last year, and I see all the teams battling for it. We want the same. In football, to win trophies is very and our aim is to win all the games if possible.”
Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof remain sidelined by injury, with Ten Hag coy on when they will return.
“Luke Shaw is progressing, but not yet ready to be selected,” said Ten Hag.
”We have a plan in our head when he can be ready, but you’re always dependent on how the progress will go and you can’t think, you can’t make a suggestion, because there are so many factors, a plan can accelerate or slow down.
They [Hojlund, Mount, Yoro and Lindelof] are not ready for tomorrow. We will see, our progress will continue.
“But I hope I have selection headaches. Last year I also had headaches, but there were no players available. I have many players available and we can make a selection from game to game, but definitely we have to rotate because we have to cover so many games. It's a nice headache.”
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