Some goals are more important than others.
Of the 108 Manchester United plundered in all competitions last season, Antony’s match-winning and tie-breaking strike against Barcelona at Old Trafford back in February was right up there. After Fred had canceled out Robert Lewandowski’s penalty to bring United back level on aggregate, Antony delivered the all-important knockout blow.
After Fred’s effort was blocked by former United target Frenkie de Jong, the ball sat up invitingly for Antony just inside the penalty area and he slotted home, first time, into the far corner. Outbreak.
It was the former Ajax winger’s best moment in a United shirt, and it secured Erik ten Hag his most famous victory to date as Reds manager. It was a goal made in Amsterdam but produced in Manchester.
Want to join our MUFC Pro club for a completely ad-free version of the MEN’s Man United app packed with premium features? Click here.
READ MORE: Sofyan Amrabat has told Erik ten Hag what he wants to hear from United connections
Unfortunately for Antony though, it wasn’t a moment he was able to repeat all that often in his first season at Old Trafford. Signed on the final day of the summer transfer window for an eye-watering fee of £85.5m, the Brazilian was Ten Hag’s top target all summer to bolster United’s right-wing options.
The Dutchman was keen to strengthen that area of the team after Jadon Sancho failed to deliver in his first season at Old Trafford. After weeks of speculation, plenty of negotiations and the Brazilian refusing to train in an attempt to force a move through, United got their man.
Although his overall performance on his debut against Arsenal at Old Trafford was nothing to write home about, he capped it off with a goal, scoring the opener in a 3-1 win. He then scored in subsequent Premier League games against Manchester City and Everton, making it three goals in his first three league games.
He then went just over six months without registering a single direct contribution in the Premier League, not scoring again in the league until the 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 16 April. However, he did feature with both goals and assists in the three cup competitions during the dry spell.
Antony finished the season with just eight goals and three assists to his name, which automatically resulted in questions being asked about his hefty price tag. Eyebrows were raised at the time, especially as he had never stepped into one of Europe’s top five leagues, but Ten Hag had his heart set on being reunited with him in the M16.
Consistency was what Antony struggled to find the most last season as he regularly blew hot and cold. One week it felt like he’d turned a corner and completely settled into life in England, only for him to be back to square one the next. Throughout the campaign, however, he offered glimpses of his ability and potential.
And it is that potential and genuine quality that United will need to see more regularly this coming season. While the Reds need to add a striker to their ranks to help their attacking output, they also need more from their current crop of forwards, such as Antony and Sancho from the wide areas.
Antony has the ability to score goals as he demonstrated on occasions last term and Ten Hag will no doubt challenge him to do so more often in 2023/24. And this is where the benefit of a full pre-season should benefit the 23-year-old.
He joined United right at the end of last season’s transfer window, meaning he made his debut for the club just three days after putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. This meant that he was thrown straight into the team without having the opportunity to settle into his new surroundings and learn about his new teammates.
This summer, however, he will have the chance to spend several weeks with his teammates on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States and learn more about them as footballers and individuals. United’s remaining number of friendlies will give him the chance to work on areas of his game without the added pressure of the result being the key takeaway from each competition.
In addition to that, Ten Hag will be able to spend more time with him on the training ground with greater gaps between matches, allowing him to work on specific details that he wants him to improve on. If all this comes together and Antony makes the most of the nature of the pre-season, he will hope to find the levels of consistency that were lacking last season.
The next few weeks could be key to shaping his second season at Old Trafford.
Follow the MEN’s United coverage on TikTok and Youtubeand subscribe to the Manchester is Red podcast.