Erik ten Hag has revealed that Antony took Manchester United’s penalty against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup because Marcus Rashford gave him the ball as a team-building gesture.
With Bruno Fernandes starting on the bench in the 7-0 win, Rashford was expected to step up from 12 yards when Antony himself was brought down by Barnsley goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina just over half an hour into the third leg of the match.
But the Brazilian midfielder, who was making his first start of the season, put the ball in the net when he lobbed it into the back of the net after stuttering in an attempt to trip Slonina’s foot. Rashford had already scored at that point in the game, and United as a team went on to score five more – including one from Rashford and two each from Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen.
Antony is off the mark this season, having scored just three goals in all competitions in 2023/24, which now means all of United’s young players have found the net in the first month of 2024/25.
But while there is individual desire, Ten Hag praised the group’s collective attitude and willingness to help each other, as a reward.
“I think they have a lot of desire, they are very hungry but what you can see is that they are giving each other the ball,” the United manager told reporters after the final whistle.
“They also provide assists and give each other a chance to score a goal like a pen when Antony needs confidence. Then Rashy gives Antony a pen, which is good for the team, which they are, they are together.”
Joshua Zirkzee still feels he has a chance of breaking into the United squad, and the forward’s strength will change again in the coming weeks when Rasmus Hojlund returns from injury.
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