In his first season playing for the "Red Devils", Antony played not bad. He has 8 goals and 5 assists in all competitions. Last season, this number was only 3 goals and 2 assists. Accompanying the lagging performance are countless frustrating performances. In particular, the 24-year-old Brazilian star also had to take the entire period of September 2023 off after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Too many things affecting him, combined with the decline in the team's performance, seemed to have sunk Antony. From always being favored by coach Erik ten Hag for the starting role, Antony gradually disappeared from the "Red Devils" squad. At the beginning of this summer's player market, combined with not being called up to the Brazilian team for the 2024 Copa America, Antony's transfer price was just over 30 million Euros. Everything seems to be pushing the winger who played for Ajax closer to the door of leaving Old Trafford.
"I am a person who demands a lot of myself, of course last season cannot be said to be successful. However, a lot of things happened to me last year. Like it or not, those things happened." impact on performance on the field.
Now, I have forgotten everything and the new season is ahead. I'm focusing all my attention on it and believe I will be a completely different version. I learned from such things profound lessons to grow up and become more mature" - Antony shared with The Athletic.
This summer, when Amad Diallo is in good form and the right striker position still has Alejandro Garnacho and somewhat Jadon Sancho, the competition with Antony is too great. Understanding that this is both a challenge and an opportunity, Antony told himself that he needed to redouble his efforts.
"I set myself many goals this coming season, specifically to score more goals. Fans can rest assured, you will hear Antony's name in many goals and assists. create more in the near future.
I'm writing down more goals for the upcoming season and looking at them every day. There are a number of things recorded in great detail such as: the number of shots that should be taken in a match, not losing the ball, needing to score or assist, completing passes and dribbles, and more. is that the defensive performance must be high.
I came up with the idea of recording these things after every match with my wife, as a form of diary to use as a goal" - Antony shared.
Last season, Antony reacted inappropriately to teacher Ten Hag. In the Premier League return match against Arsenal, he was assigned to play left back in the last minutes. The 24-year-old star reacted openly. Later in the locker room, the Brazilian striker was reprimanded by his teacher and reminded to respect his assigned position.
Without waiting for Ten Hag to clarify the punishment after that action, Antony was not allowed to play a single minute in Man United 's last 3 matches of last season, including the victory over Man City in the FA Cup final.
"I love Ten Hag very much and he understands that too. Every time we talk together, he often talks about my past, coming from the slums as motivation to strive. I am grateful to Ten Hag , he is a great coach" - Antony shared. He also did not forget to talk about having to play defender. But right after that match, everything calmed down and the teacher-student relationship between the two men was not broken.
When talking about his background and family, Antony cried. He cried when recalling the difficult times with his family, even staying with his current wife in a slum in Brazil. What his family had to go through during those years had trained him to be a brave person like Antony even though he was not very old.
Antony said, he didn't need people to know too much about his past and what he had been through.
"I don't use those stories as an excuse for bad performances. I always ask myself to play better. It's okay to come out of the slums, I'm still proud of it." for the rest of my life. If someone needs to represent that area, I can do it" - Antony shared.
