21 April 2024 , 18:37
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Antony has been branded a Championship-level player after antagonising Coventry fans with his celebrations at Wembley.
The Manchester United winger had little to do with their 4-2 win on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw in the FA Cup semi-final. But that didn’t stop him from celebrating Rasmus Hojlund’s winning spot-kick by cupping his ears towards the Coventry supporters, rather than enjoying the win with his team-mates.
Antony came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Alejandro Garnacho when United were cruising at 3-0. He did nothing to prevent Coventry from roaring back to 3-3 and nearly winning it with a narrowly-offside goal in the depths of extra-time, and did not take a penalty, with Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes and Hojlund all scoring.
Yet he was seen winding up the Coventry faithful in the moments after the winning penalty, prompting a stinging line from former Coventry striker Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live: “He needs to worry about his own job instead of Coventry because some of his performances this season shows he could be playing in the Championship.”
Morrison has a point, too, with Antony having contributed just two goals and two assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season. The Brazilian has done little to repay his £87million transfer fee, which Erik ten Hag insisted United pay to his former side Ajax in September 2022.
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Antony has fallen behind Garnacho in the pecking order this season and has started just 12 games in the Premier League, with accusations of physical assault from his ex-girlfriend adding to his malaise. The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe has put his place in the squad under scrutiny ahead of a summer transfer window in which big changes are expected.
United appeared set for a second successive FA Cup final showdown against Manchester City when Scott McTominay tapped in and Harry Maguire thumped home a header to put them 2-0 up at half-time. Fernandes added another with a deflected effort before Coventry roared back through Ellis Simms’ effort, Callum O’Hare’s deflected long shot and Haji Wright’s penalty.
Antony chose a different way of celebrating the win (Matthew Peters/Getty Images)Coventry thought they had won it when Victor Torp finished from Wright’s cross in the final minute of added time, but it was ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up. Andre Onana saved from O’Hare and Ben Sheaf skied his penalty to allow Hojlund the winning moment.
Antony wasn’t the only United player seen engaging in behaviour that should be below them in the closing stages. Fernandes had some choice words with Coventry goalkeeper Brad Collins after scoring his penalty, while Onana was booked for a second time after doing the same to Sheaf.
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