Erik ten Hag issues response to Bruno Fernandes and Antony’s Crystal Palace flashpoint

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has issued a response to the flashpoint between Bruno Fernandes and Antony against Crystal Palace.

The Red Devils were unable to head into this afternoon’s crunch clash against Arsenal off the back of ten consecutive wins across all competitions.

The winning run ended at nine games following Michael Olise’s injury-time free-kick, which saw Ten Hag’s men draw 1-1 against Patrick Vieira’s Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.

Olise’s set piece cancelled out Fernandes’ first half opener, which was the Portuguese’s first goal involvement against the Eagles.

Erik ten Hag issues response to Bruno Fernandes and Antony’s Crystal Palace flashpoint

Following a breakdown in understanding and communication between Fernandes and Antony in the first half against Palace, the attacking duo exchanged verbal’s with one and other, and the Brazilian in particular looked the most animated and unhappy with his teammate.

United’s number 21 took too long to pass the ball to Fernandes, and by the time the Brazilian tried to pass the ball into the path of United’s number eight, the former Sporting Lisbon playmaker had strayed into an offside position and therefore made no attempt to latch onto Antony’s pass.

But with Fernandes giving United the lead just minutes later, the 28-year-old gave Antony a hug and it seemed that all was forgiven.

Having seen two of his attacking players exchange some choice words with and other, Ten Hag wasn’t fazed by the flashpoint and the Dutchman believes that such an incident will actually bring the best out of Fernandes and Antony.

Speaking via Sky Sports, the 52-year-old said: “I think they are really OK with that. There is always emotion, so much is about brains, but also emotion too when the heart rules the head.

“Those two, and there are others, when they bring that emotion to the game, it makes their performance better. Sometimes they cross the line with each other, but in the same minute, they are best friends again.”