‘Players have to fight for positions,’ says Ten Hag on Antony’s lack of game time

Asked about Antony’s lack of playing time, Ten Hag told reporters on Monday: “That is professional football, that is top football. Those are the laws. You pick the team that you think has the most chance to win a game

Published : Sep 17, 2024 12:43 IST , Nashik - 1 MIN READ

FILE PHOTO: The Brazilian international has fallen down the pecking order, making just one appearance this season, with Ten Hag opting to field former academy players Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho instead.
FILE PHOTO: The Brazilian international has fallen down the pecking order, making just one appearance this season, with Ten Hag opting to field former academy players Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho instead. | Photo Credit: AP
infoIcon

FILE PHOTO: The Brazilian international has fallen down the pecking order, making just one appearance this season, with Ten Hag opting to field former academy players Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho instead. | Photo Credit: AP

Manchester United winger Antony must earn his spot on the team by showing consistency in training, the Premier League club’s manager Erik ten Hag said.

Antony, signed from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial fee of 80.75 million pounds (106.57 million USD), has failed to impress at Old Trafford.

The Brazilian international has fallen down the pecking order, making just one appearance this season, with Ten Hag opting to field former academy players Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho instead.

Asked about Antony’s lack of playing time, Ten Hag told reporters on Monday: “That is professional football, that is top football. Those are the laws. You pick the team that you think has the most chance to win a game

“The players have to fight for their positions. You pick the 11 who have the best dynamic, the best chemistry,” the Dutch manager added, speaking ahead of United’s League Cup game at home to Barnsley on Wednesday.

“Now he (Antony) has to bounce back and he has the abilities to do it. If he is doing the right thing, he can compete with them. He is fighting for his position. That’s what we expect from every player in the squad at Manchester United, what they should do.

“We have training every day and the players have to earn the right. When the attitude is good and (they) show performance in training then they will play,” the coach added.

United host Barnsley later on Tuesday before travelling to face Crystal Palace in a league match on Saturday.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment