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Erik ten Hag commended his Brazilian signing Antony after the attacker scored Man United’s opening goal at the City Ground to ensure the visitors all three points over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Ten Hag spoke to reporters after the game and said that the winger reminded him of a Chelsea legend after Antony ended his 15-game Premier League goal drought versus Forest.
The dazzling £85,500,000 Brazilian winger has been criticized for being too predictable and always cutting inside onto his preferred left foot since arriving at Man United.
Antony, 23, scored Manchester United’s first goal and assisted for Diogo Dalot’s second as they defeated struggling Nottingham Forest away from home on Sunday evening.
The victory meant that United surpassed Newcastle in the league standings. The Red Devils moved into third place, six points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham with a game in hand.
Ten Hag: ‘He Is So Good On The Inside’
And Ten Hag compared Antony to former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, who was a phenomenal player for the Blues on the right wing in his day.
“First, I know he can also use his right but he has to do it more. Second, he can also go outside but he is so good on the inside!” Ten Hag said.
“I’ve seen, for instance, Arjen Robben a lot,” the manager said, “They used to say he has only one trick — but that one trick was so brilliant no one can stop it.”
“Of course, if you can go both ways you have more variations and you are more difficult to stop,” he added, “But you can also improve the trick that you are really good at.”
“His first yards with the ball as he dribbles are so outstanding and so difficult to defend, so he has to keep doing that.”
Antony made an immediate impact on his arrival to Old Trafford, scoring in each of his first three Premier League games after his summer transfer from Ajax, but then the goals dried up.
However, Ten Hag was eager to highlight Antony’s FA Cup and European goals this season.
“Antony knows and I know that when you are a striker, you need an end product,” the manager said.
“But already he has a lot of end product — he has scored in all the competitions now,” he explained.
“Eight or nine goals in his first year at United is not bad and he still has games to go,” the Red Devils’ boss stated.
“I can’t say he has to do it in every game,” the manager said, “But in many games if you want to be a top-class player and especially in all the competitions.”
Ten Hag: Antony Made the ‘Right Decisions’
Man United’s Dutch boss explained that Antony has had to adjust to the high level of defending in the English top flight since his arrival. He added that the winger made the “right decisions” on Sunday.
“Today was an example where, with both goals, he made the right decisions,” he said ,The goal he made, he was in the right spot, in the right moment to get the rebound.”
“The second goal was a great team goal,” he added, “How we built that up, the way Antony did it to bring the pass and in the right moment.”
“The movement from Diogo was fantastic. It was good to see.”
Next, Ten Hag’s side will face Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League clash with the side on Thursday.
Following United’s poor game management in the first leg, it currently stands at 2-2. The side may well need Antony to be on form if they are to emerge successful from the tie later this week.
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