Andy Cole doesn’t believe Antony has produced the goods since joining Manchester United in 2022.
The Brazilian moved from Ajax to Manchester United last year in a deal believed to be worth £85.6 million, but the winger has struggled for consistency in England.
There was an expectation that Erik ten Hag knew what he was getting after working closely with Antony in the Netherlands. However, the 23-year-old has no goals or assists in nine appearances for United this season.
In a pretty damning assessment, however, former United striker Andy Cole admits he would’ve hated playing alongside Antony. The former England international scored 121 goals in 275 appearances for the Reds.
“He would drive me absolutely mad,” Cole told Sky Sports, as per The Metro.
“He’s an individual, we all know he’s very left-footed, he’s an individual who never goes to the right-hand side so as a centre-forward, if you’re making a run to the near post you know you’re never going to get it.
“He’s going to check back, you’re not sure when he’s going to put it in the box.
“He doesn’t score enough goals for me, he doesn’t create enough chances for his teammates. So you look at that and say, ‘okay, what are you giving?’. That’s what you’re expecting from him.
“They’ve spent a hell of a lot of money on him, the manager’s backed him and he’s found it really, really tough.”
We haven’t seen enough end product from Antony and the biggest concern is he wasn’t renowned for being a goalscorer in the Eredivisie. United have spent a lot of money on Antony and he needs to start performing soon.
Next up for United is an away trip to Fulham in the Premier League and I wouldn’t be surprised if Antony failed to make the starting line-up.
Antony Martial was another player singled out on Sky Sports for his dire displays. The Frenchman was handed a rare start, but he offered nothing in the final.
“Sometimes I ask myself the question, when you walk away form a broadcast like Sunday thinking, ‘are we being too harsh?’,” former United right-back Gary Neville said.
“But when you hear that stat that a guy [Martial] has been at the club nine years, a goalscorer that cost £50 million, £60m, £70m, has scored basically 89 goals in nine years and we still can’t get him out the club, I don’t think we are being too harsh. I don’t think we’re being harsh enough.
“The failings of the football department and recruitment is just absolutely incredible. They’re human beings at the end of the day and no one wants to go on the pitch, play badly and not achieve their standards. Nobody wants to be injured.
“So I accept all those factors but the reality is there is no way he should still be leading the line at Man United in any competition, even the Carabao Cup. It’s just where the club is at the moment, they don’t have a centre forward apart from Hojlund who I think has real promise but he needs experience alongside him.”
Cole added: “It’s a tough one.
“He’s been here nine years and scored 89 goals. When you play centre forward at a club like Man United, that’s not enough goals.
“He’s been given another opportunity today, and he could get goals but can he take Man United where they need to be? He’s been here nine years and not done it so it’ll be very difficult for him to do it now.”
Get the latest Manchester United news, opinion, interviews and exclusive features with the Stretty Newsletter – Ad Free! Kick off your afternoon with the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
