Antony is arguably one of the biggest signings to come to The Red Devils in recent years. His flair, skill with the ball, and speed made him a huge target for Manchester United a couple of seasons ago. However, in recent months, there have been rumors of fall outs between him and Ten Hag, issues in camp, and poor performances. Will Antony be sidelined for the foreseeable future, or does Erik Ten Hag back his Brazilian player?
Antony Not in Matchday Squad vs. Bournemouth
The Red Devils had a disappointing result against Bournemouth this past weekend, earning just a 2-2 draw against a bottom-placed team. Bournemouth have struggled to reach the top ten during the 2023-2024 Premier League season, currently sitting in 13th place.
Just looking at places and players on each team, you would think that The Red Devils would go to a comfortable win against this team. But strange results happen in the EPL – Liverpool just lost to Crystal Palace, who sits in 14th place.
Manchester United, in 7th place, drew 2-2 against Bournemouth, almost ensuring there was no way for them to break into the top five places to end the EPL season.
But could Antony have made a difference in this tight game? Possibly.
The statement from the club was that Antony was injured and unable to play, hence why he didn’t travel or appear on the matchday squad.
However, at the end of the 90 minutes, a rumor began to circulate that Antony was dropped due to arguments with the manager over playing time and position. The rumor caught fire and took on a life of its own.
Many sceptics and analysts stated Antony had a fall out with Ten Hag over potentially starting on the bench for Bournemouth.
Manchester United Refutes Controversial Rumors
United say Antony missed the Bournemouth draw due to injury after he failed to complete their final training session on Friday. The suggestion he was dropped described as ‘completely false’ #mufc
— Rich Fay (@RichFay) April 14, 2024
The club was quick to quell any thoughts of disagreement or tension among players and coaching staff.
However, there seems to be more backing to the rumor than the club is addressing.
‘A source has told ESPN the club is unhappy with speculation that the Brazil winger was left out because of a row with Ten Hag over his playing time. Sources close to Antony have told ESPN that the issue is not serious and that the 24-year-old could recover in time to face Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.’
So, is he injured or did he argue with the manager? Many fans speculate the poor finish, player unhappiness, and discontent at the club could cause Ten Hag to be sacked at the end of the season.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
