Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim pledges to build the confidence of Brazilian winger Antony who cost £86m but has not scored in the Premier League for 20 months
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim pledges to build the confidence of Brazilian winger Antony who cost £86m but has not scored in the Premier League for 20 months Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim pledges to build the confidence of Brazilian winger Antony who cost £86m but has not scored in the Premier League for 20 months
Ruben Amorim wants to find the old Ajax Antony by rebuilding the Brazilian’s fragile confidence – if the winger is prepared to keep working “really hard”.
Manchester United paid £86m for Antony in September 2022 in arguably the worst value-for-money signing in Premier League history. He has scored only once this injury-hit season – in the Carabao Cup at Barnsley – and has not found the net in the top flight since April 2023.
Amorin saw the best of Antony when his Sporting Lisbon side conceded nine goals in two defeats to Erik ten Hag’s Ajax in the 2021-22 Champions League – and insists he can recreate that form.
But with Marcus Rashford dropped, Alejandro Garnacho on the bench and Mason Mount injured, the ineffective Antony started in the Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham. And Manchester United only improved after Amorim’s triple substitution after 55 minutes where Amad Diallo replaced the Brazilian.
“He needs more confidence,” insisted the Portuguese manager. “If you remember the Antony that played in Ajax, he lacks a little bit of confidence to go one against one, but he will improve. He is working really hard and trying and playing more inside than outside, especially in this game. He just has to do that. To work really hard and I will help him to be a better player.”
Mount has also failed to justify his £55m price tag since joining in July 2023 and is now out for “several weeks” with a muscle injury. And Amorim expressed his frustration that his latest setback – plus United’s busy fixture schedule – will slow his integration into his side.
“What I can do is to help Mase, to teach him how to play our game when he is recovering,” he said. “Try to use that time for him to think about different things. I think the worst part is that we don’t have time to train like we should do when you are recovering for a lot of injuries. It is really hard for the player to be out for so long and he’s trying really hard. The same as Antony. If they try really hard, we will help them until the end.”
Amorim recalled Garnacho to his squad in Tottenham after training well but Rashford remained at home. Giving the England star game time to be able to sell him now appears the balancing act for the Old Trafford club as the new boss forges his team’s new identity.
Asked if the England star is available to face Bournemouth, the Old Trafford boss said: Yes, of course. It is the same thing guys. Totally the same thing.”
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Amorin has now lost three of his first eight games and he bemoaned his side’s ability to control the Spurs game during a “chaotic” second half period when they conceded two goals.
But the former Sporting boss was happier at the other end of the pitch. “I think we are improving near the opponent box. We have some games that we are near the box but without real threat. You could see different things today.”
Manchester United lost 0-3 at home to Bournemouth last season – and went down 2-3 to Nottingham Forest in their last game at Old Trafford. “Yeah it was really hard the Nottingham game,” Amorim said. “To lose that game in the way we lost. I am always looking forward to hearing that song and playing with our fans and to try and put some happiness in their lives.”
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