Antony is gearing up for a huge bounce-back season after his struggles in 2023/24.
Manchester United are unpredictable heading into the new campaign. Injuries are still rife, with Erik ten Hag still under pressure from some sections of the Old Trafford faithful.
Player unpredictability has become a major issue, too. The Reds offer up a real mixed bag on a game-by-game basis, making it difficult to consistently pick a side that you can have 100% confidence in.
No sole footballer fits that description more than Antony. The Brazilian had a decent debut term, though last time around, he was brutally disappointing. The confidence levels seemed to dip. The displays were uninspiring. The man himself has admitted to the Daily Mail that personal issues off the field definitely affected his mindset when out on the hallowed Theatre of Dreams turf. Obviously, that’s a less than ideal situation.
Antony, though, has the mindset of a champion. The Brazilian will always refer to his tough days in the favelas of his homeland as the barometer for everything. He really did hit rock bottom as a child. He’s overcome those struggles, so a disappointing campaign should be light work for the ex-Ajax man.
The quote of the interview with Chris Wheeler came right at the end:
‘Rest assured, you’ll hear the name Antony in relation to goals and assists.’ The Brazilian confidently stated.
This is absolutely the mindset that is required to turn things around. Fans are now starting to doubt the 24-year-old. Some of that criticism is more than fair given the shoddy output from Antony last term.
However, the under-pressure United attacker did send out a defiant message and you get the feeling that he fully believes he’ll have a bounce-back 2024/25 campaign.
First and foremost, Antony has to break back into the side. Amad had a sublime pre-season and perhaps having someone ahead of him in the pecking order is the motivation that the Brazil international needs. It’s certainly shaping up to be a real ding-dong battle between the pair.
The advantage that Antony has is that he cost big money and he’s a Ten Hag signing. Managers have this tendency to lean towards ‘their’ guy, particularly when it’s a tight-knit battle. The fact that United have European games to play means Antony will be given his fair share of opportunities, assuming he can stay fit.
Do you think Antony has what it takes to have a strong season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
