Former Premier League striker Emmanuel Adebayor really is not a fan of Antony, criticising the Brazilian while urging Erik ten Hag to bring Jadon Sancho back into the Manchester United reckoning.
With all due respect, those pleading for Sancho’s return are missing the point. Yes, Manchester United are crying out for some attacking inspiration. Yes, Rasmus Hojlund would benefit from a player capable of threading clever through balls between the lines.
But there is a bigger picture at play here.
Erik ten Hag has spoken on countless occasions about his desire to bring the ‘standards’ and the discipline back to Manchester United, and his treatment of Sancho – while heavily criticised in some quarters – should be a warning to players not willing to do the basics.
Like turning up on time for training, for instance, as Nemanja Matic outlined to Yu Planet recently.
Antony gets Erik ten Hag’s backing
Say what you like about Antony – and most have, with one assist and no goals in his last 25 games – the hot-blooed Brazilian always offers something in the way of fight, if not end product.
As far as Adebayor is concerned, however, Man United’s struggles on the pitch may necessitate a change in tack from Ten Hag off it, the Dutchman urged to offer an olive branch in Sancho’s direction.
“This year, with Ten Hag, it becomes so easy (to go and win at Old Trafford). Obviously with the goalkeeper, (Andre) Onana, his lack of confidence… you can tell, looking at the team, that the players are not happy,” the former Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur striker tells talkSPORT (14 December, 9.30am).
“They bought Antony for I don’t know how much. And, for the last two seasons, he has not done anything for the club. He isn’t bringing anything to the club, or to the table.”
“They have to bring Sancho back. Whether you like it or not, he is a great player. The punishment of the player is (causing problems for) the team.”
Should Manchester United bring Jadon Sancho back?
Up for sale in January, Sancho appears certain to have played his last game for Manchester United.
Antony, meanwhile, has been quietly pretty impressive of late, one of United’s brightest performers against Bayern Munich and ‘outstanding’ in the 2-1 win over Chelsea a week-and-a-half ago.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/l0B1ciX