Erik ten Hag has explained the thinking behind bringing Antony on before Amad Diallo when Manchester United needed a goal against Fenerbahce.
The Europa League clash was tied at 1-1 when Ten Hag turned to Antony, whose only goal contribution this season came against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup last month. Diallo, meanwhile, has been in superior form and starting regularly in the Premier League.
Around 15 minutes into his substitute cameo, Antony had to be stretchered off. And only then, with one minute of regulation time remaining, did Ten Hag call upon Diallo, who had a face like thunder while waiting to come on.
“Amad, he is doing well,” Ten Hag said after the draw. “But I must also reward the performances of Antony in training. He is a threat almost every training session, so I felt in that moment the right thing to do was bring him on to decide the game.”
Antony has been hugely disappointing since completing an £86million move from Ajax to Old Trafford in 2022. The Brazilian has slipped down to fourth in the pecking order out wide after scoring just three times in all competitions last season.
Many United fans are keen to see Ten Hag put more faith in Diallo. The 22-year-old is finally starting to stamp his authority on the senior side after almost four years on the books, though the club are in danger of losing him when his contract expires in June.
The amount of game time Diallo is given between now and then could ultimately determine whether he decides his career would be best served elsewhere.
United led for a large portion of Thursday night’s showdown in Istanbul through Christian Eriksen’s sweet strike. But a lapse in defensive concentration opened the door for Youssef En-Nesyri to equalise with a close-range header.
The Red Devils are 21st out of 36 teams in the Europa League, but Ten Hag feels that results have not been bad enough to warrant criticism. “From two tough away games, Porto and Fenerbahce, we take two points, this is a result,” he said. “A point in Porto, a point in Fenerbahce, that’s not bad, but of course we want to win. We want to win every game.”
Ten Hag raised eyebrows prior to kick-off when it became apparent that Noussair Mazraoui – a full-back by trade – would be deployed in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role. The Moroccan played there for 55 minutes before reverting to full-back.
“Away from home in Europe, with a hectic atmosphere, to start with four attackers is too much,” the manager explained. “Nous is very capable of playing that position. He was helping the midfield, supporting [Joshua] Zirkzee in pressing, and played a big part in goal for Eriksen.”
