Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool on Sunday will go down as one of the classics of the competition after United came back from behind twice to seal a dramatic 4-3 win, with Amad Diallo scoring the winning goal in the 120th minute.
There are a number of players that warrant post-match plaudits and Amad will take most of the spotlight for the winner.
But there was another player that deserves praise and that’s Antony. The Brazil international has endured a nightmare campaign but on Sunday, it would be his renaissance that would be kickstarted.
Brought on with roughly 20 minutes remaining, Antony immediately looked like a player with a point to prove and that shone through. He was determined throughout. No showboating, just trying his best for his team.
With three minutes remaining on the clock, he scored the equaliser with his first goal of the season and in extra-time, he played at left-back as Ten Hag withdrew two defenders.
Speaking after the game, Ten Hag showered the former Ajax man with praise, insisting that he is convinced that the winger is returning to his best.
“It’s very important for him,” Ten Hag told BeIN Sports on Antony. “He struggled so much. First part, he’s responsible for that and then he lost confidence.
“Now, he has to fight back. In the last few weeks, he is returning. In training, I see the Antony I was used to work with at Ajax, also used to work with in the first weeks here.
“He has to fight back and I’m sure he will do. You see in the goal but not only in the goal. You see also when he’s going in the left full-back position, he’s defending very well. In certain systems, he can play from that side.
“He’s not a defender, don’t get me wrong because you can see he can score goals.”
United now face another trip to Wembley where Coventry City will stand in the way of a second consecutive FA Cup final. In the other semi-final, Manchester City are going up against Chelsea.
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