Home Football ‘does NOT understand the game’ – Peter Schmeichel directly criticized Antony after embarrassing loss to Nottingham

‘does NOT understand the game’ – Peter Schmeichel directly criticized Antony after embarrassing loss to Nottingham

Football — 12/31/2023

Peter Schmeichel believes Antony does not ‘get the game’ and has encouraged Erik ten Hag to dismiss the Brazilian after his latest dismal performance.

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On Saturday, Antony had another night to forget as Manchester United finished 2023 with a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.

Antony was dropped for the Boxing Day triumph over Aston Villa, but he returned to the starting XI at the City Ground owing to Rasmus Hojlund’s absence, with Marcus Rashford moving up front and Alejandro Garnacho transferring to the left wing.

‘He’s had an opportunity for a long time, this is a player who hasn’t scored this season, he hasn’t made an assist and he hasn’t scored, it’s as if he doesn’t truly understand the game,’ says the coach. 

Antony endured another afternoon to forget against Nottingham Forest

Antony became United’s second most expensive player when he followed Ten Hag to Old Trafford from Ajax for £82 million last year, but he has never lived up to his price tag.

In 21 appearances across all competitions this season, the Brazilian has yet to score or assist.

Antony last scored for United against Forest at the City Ground on April 16, with only one assist and no goals in 30 games thereafter.

Despite being sidelined from the first team since September, Jadon Sancho has more goals and assists in the same time frame.

Despite making only two starts, Facundo Pellistri has as many assists this season as Antony has since last April.

Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are both having bad seasons, but they both have more goals and assists this season than Antony had during the last eight months.

Schmeichel acknowledged Antony’s poor product was not due to a lack of effort, but questioned whether he was merely following Ten Hag’s instructions, in which case the Dutchman would be held responsible.

‘As a winger, you expect them to run into this area [the byline] and cross the ball with their right foot, but he doesn’t,’ he remarked. 

‘He’s trying here, he’s trying, but he doesn’t have the pace, and he knows it.

‘We don’t know what the message from the manager is, he might’ve been asked to keep doing what he’s been doing, then the manager would be responsible for no assists, no goals all season,’ says the coach.