Joe Cole calls out Manchester United substitute who ‘cost his team’ vs Brighton, thinks his time is up

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Manchester United fell to Brighton 2-1 away from home to puncture their positive early-season momentum after just one game in the league.

It was a story of missed chances, remarkably bad luck, and defensive breakdowns as United let go of a game they arguably could, and should have won.

Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff rolled the dice and used all five substitutes as well, with Joshua Zirkzee, in particular, coming on at half-time to replace a presumably injured Mason Mount.

However, one substitute has been accused by Joe Cole of costing his team because he “probably wants out” and the club want him out too.

Joe Cole hammers Antony

Antony’s days of being an undisputed starter are firmly behind him now, with the breakthrough of Amad the final nail in that coffin.

With Alejandro Garnacho forever improving, and Marcus Rashford having the unequivocal trust of the manager, the onus is on Antony to make the most of his few minutes off the bench every game.

Against Brighton, he came on when the injury time in the second half had almost begun so he had barely nine minutes of action to impress.

Joe Cole said that not only did he fail to do that, but he actively “cost his team” and it is all down to an attitude issue.

He said: “Manchester United brought on Antony who in all due respect, probably isn’t happy to just play 10 or 15 minutes. He’s an £80m player. He probably wants out the door at United and they probably want him out as well.

“You’re bringing him on and in that crucial moment when there’s a ball to be won, a body needs to be put on the line for your team and for your club, he didn’t do it and it cost his team.

“That’s the difference. If you look at the running the Brighton subs went through, it was fantastic.”

The curious case of Antony

Fans have pretty much stopped expecting anything from Antony at this point, taking his goal contributions, if any, as a bonus.

It is a damning indictment of a player who became the marquee arrival in Erik ten Hag’s first summer at the helm and started his Old Trafford career by scoring against Arsenal.

However, he was soon found out by defences across the league, and his failure to evolve his game since has led to stagnation.

Amad has given fresh impetus on that wing while even Jadon Sancho, for all his faults, can claim to be better than the Brazilian but is not being given a chance.

Bought at a humongous cost of nearly £85 million, Antony is destined to be a wasted asset in United’s books and has “leaves upon the expiry of his contract” written all over him.

His contract runs till 2027 so it’s not like he doesn’t have time on his side but unless a remarkable turnaround happens in his fortunes out of nowhere, it is set to be three more years of being subject to criticism in an increasingly shrinking role.