“He is unstoppable” Erik ten Hag doubles down on Man United disagreement with INEOS

Erik ten Hag has backed United winger Antony to turn the corner on his horrid form even though it is reported that the club are open to selling the Brazilian.

Erik ten Hag has reinforced his faith that Antony will turn good for United in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest. Ten Hag was a key figure in bringing the winger to Old Trafford for £85 million from Ajax two summers ago, however, the 24-year-old is yet to prove his price tag.

As reported by UtdDistrict last month and confirmed by Manchester Evening News on Monday, United are open to selling Antony as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS look to solve the club’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

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United’s No. 21 has been the subject of frustration for many fans as the predominantly one-sided forward hasn’t scored in the Premier League since April, and his only goal contributions this season have been against League Two Newport County in the FA Cup.

Due to this dire form, Antony has become a regular on the bench as Ten Hag has preferred Alejandro Garnacho on the right wing and his short cameo against Fulham, coming on in the 99th minute, was seen as adding salt into the wounds following an abysmal display by many.

Despite this, the Dutchman in charge still believes in the 24-year-old as he knows what he can be, as noted in the manager’s pre-match press conference ahead of United’s away visit to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round.

“I know from the past he is unstoppable, no defender can stop him because he’s one of the quickest in the first 10 yards, when he plays the game, I’m sure he will perform. He is resilient, he is a character,” Ten Hag said on Tuesday afternoon.

He adds, “he [Antony] will fight back, and I back him. He now has to wait for his chance, and once he is there, he has to pick up.”

Antony himself has been making improvements to his lifestyle off the pitch, including a better diet and concentrating more on recovery, with the hope that this can help him return to the form that earned him the move to Manchester United in the first place.

If this does happen, it seems that it will have to do so sooner rather than later, as his name is on the INEOS chopping block, and in every game that passes without a positive involvement, the exit edges closer, regardless of Ten Hag’s backing.