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No one likes Antony.
Or so it appears. Reviled by Ajax followers for hanging to pressure a transfer to United, reviled by opposition followers for his trademark “spin”, reviled by his ex-partners for alleged home violence, ripped aside by pundits and former PL chairmen, the Man United winger has a giant popularity as a nasty boy.
The stranger factor is, although, that Antony is equally, if no more detested by United followers themselves, not less than, that’s the impression this author has. His solely fan appeared to be supervisor Erik ten Hag, however even that not seems to be the case, with the Brazilian solely being given one minute of Premier League soccer to this point this season.
It’s comprehensible that followers must be pissed off. A purpose involvement each 382 minutes final season is a horrible return for a winger. Marcus Rashford managed one each 218 minutes regardless of being in dire kind. A €95 million price ticket weighs closely on Antony’s shoulders, too; not his fault, however followers wished extra for his or her cash.
Ten Hag didn’t assist our appreciation at a press convention this week when in response to a query about why Antony shouldn’t be taking part in, he mentioned “You decide the eleven who’ve the very best dynamic and the very best chemistry.” By implication, he was saying Antony shouldn’t be even appreciated by his teammates.
Let’s put apart the home violence accusations, as a result of if true, they’re a fairly good cause for disliking somebody. In any case, they have been very a lot a “he mentioned, she mentioned” scenario with somebody whose “profession” is as a Youtube influencer, so we actually do not know whether or not the claims have been falsely trumped up for publicity (or extortion) or not. Let’s say, harmless till confirmed responsible.
Let’s think about a fresh-faced academy star breaking into the primary crew with the very same sport and talent degree that Antony has. Would he be getting the stick that the 24 yr outdated suffers? Would we not be extra keen to see the apparent expertise and potential? Would we not be encouraging him and hoping for him to return good and fulfil that potential?
Followers are the twelfth man on a soccer crew. Gamers are lifted by the gang roaring in encouragement, confidence is boosted by constructive phrases from the media and social media. Simply 22 years of age when he joined United, Antony has had to deal with a lot negativity, abuse and even ridicule from his personal supporters on high of the whole lot else. This will’t have helped his kind or his growth.
The participant alluded to a few of these points in an interview with The Mail not too long ago, saying “so much occurred over the yr in my private life. Prefer it or not, the whole lot I went by had an impact on the pitch.”
Talking of his poverty-stricken upbringing within the notorious Brazilian favelas, he mentioned “when folks discuss me or criticise me, I all the time discover solace in the place I got here from. I’ll by no means let anybody else write my story or let folks put me down, as I genuinely know what it’s prefer to be on the backside.”
Antony would possibly really be a very nice younger man who’s misunderstood. Antony is likely to be a world-class winger. Antony would possibly develop into a United legend. All proper, we instinctively don’t imagine any of that. But when we have been to just accept it’s attainable and if we will will him to succeed, he may have a much better likelihood of doing so. We could be a part of the answer or a part of the issue.
“I’ve a variety of targets, ones I write down for myself and lots of for this new season,” he mentioned within the interview.
“Relaxation assured, you’ll hear the title Antony in relation to targets and assists.”
He has made a begin. He received a penalty that he transformed himself in opposition to Barnsley in midweek, working exhausting all through the sport. Not the whole lot got here off, however he earned himself an 8/10 ranking from purpose.com. Maybe this season, United’s unhealthy boy will show to everybody he’s not so unhealthy in spite of everything.
Featured picture Paul Ellis through Getty Pictures
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