Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has praised Antony after a superb second-half display against Lens on Saturday.
United were in pre-season action on Saturday as Ten Hag prepares for his second Premier League campaign.
The Dutchman won’t have been too pleased with the first goal of the game as Andre Onana was caught off his line by an inch-perfect lob from Lens striker Florian Sotoca.
United saw first-half chances go begging but the cutting edge was there in the second half.
Ten Hag saw his side pick up a 3-1 win in the end and Antony played a vital role in the second-half fight back.
Antony turns Lens friendly in United’s favour
The Brazilian threaded a perfect through ball for Marcus Rashford just after half-time, firing United level.
Just five minutes later, Antony went from provider to goalscorer as he slotted Alejandro Garnacho’s pass into the net.
Casemiro headed home number three for United, making it three goals in just 11 minutes to completely flip the game on its head.
United are now gearing up for the Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers with Antony surely confident of his spot in the team.
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This kind of performance is what United fans want to see from the £85million wide man and it’s certainly what Ten Hag is seeking from his right winger.
Erik ten Hag hails Antony improvement
Ten Hag has always been a big believer in Antony; that’s ultimately why the pair reunited at United having worked together at Ajax.
The United boss has now spoken to the club’s official website and moved to praise Antony.
Ten Hag admitted that he was ‘very pleased’ with Antony’s display against Lens and really feels that the 23-year-old is ‘improving’.
Ten Hag absolutely loved the way Antony’s goal materialised, praising the interplay between Garnacho, Antony and Rashford.
The hope is that we see much of this in the coming season, with Antony potentially poised for a big second season at Old Trafford.
“I was very pleased with Antony’s performance, he’s improving and also Garna,” said Ten Hag. “I think that second goal is a picture, it’s a brilliant goal. The movement – the dribble from Garna, then inside the movement in the right moment, the timing, the run from Rashford, and then it opens up and then the great pass from Garna and the first touch and the finish,” he added.