Manchester United star Antony has been labelled “classless”, “embarrassing” and plenty worse following his celebrations after the Red Devils’ slim FA Cup semi-final win on penalties against Coventry City.
The Brazilian winger has been a divisive figure ever since he arrived at Old Trafford, with most arguing that the club have seen nowhere enough for his hefty price tag, not to mention that moments like his trademark spinning has served as little more than a meme at Man United‘s expense.
However, it’s his behaviour both on and off the pitch that has also made him an unlikeable figure this season. Being embroiled in an ongoing domestic assault case certainly has only exacerbated his public image but it was his latest viral moment against Coventry that has now irked even more people.
United managed to blow a 3-0 lead against the Championship side on Sunday, allowing the Sky Blues to push them all the way to penalties following a catastrophic 19-minute collapse (by no means the first this year), but it was Antony’s reaction after surviving the shootout that has left people countless arguing.
Several supporters, Reds included, have come out to criticise the celebrations from Antony, who decided to direct his taunts towards the opposition who shone at Wembley from start to finish even after the heartbreaking twist of fate in what was a truly epic comeback.
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While there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the game – Coventry’s last-minute penalty to tie the game and what they thought was the winner only for it to be ruled in a ridiculously tight offside, just to name a couple – there can be no question as to it going down as an FA Cup classic.
All that being said, despite the game being a dramatic delight for the neutral, Antony’s ear-cupping after Rasmus Højlund scored the winning penalty has left many with a sour taste in their mouth and his reputation dented even further.
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The backlash on social media has been pretty vocal, with the 24-year-old branded as everything from “shameless”, “embarrassing” and “a disgrace” to “everything wrong with modern football”; one person even went so far as to label him “the most hateable player” in the sport. Yep, not a very popular bloke.
Although the vast majority have come out to condemn it as needless showboating, perceiving it as unnecessary salt in the wound to those already hurting in the stands, there are some dismissing the celebrations as simply part of the game.
Fan account Stretford Post wrote: “I have no issue with what Antony did, so what, he loves the game and loves to win, it’s emotional and we all let ourselves go sometimes. Accept the man’s personality and stop the agenda.”
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That being said, it’s fair to say the chaotic ending to the game gave the bulk of Man United fans in the stadium and watching home much to fully celebrate given the nature of their capitulation and even some of his teammates on the pitch looked reticent to run over to excitedly to Højlund after he scored.
ln fact, both captain Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire – who went straight to commiserate the Coventry players after the final penalty – were quick to acknowledge how fortunate they were to scrape through in the end, simply boiling it down a season-defining statement: “We have to do much better”.
Be it naivety or just getting swept in the spirit of a crucial FA Cup final-securing penalty shootout, the celebrations by Antony haven’t gone down well with many fans or pundits.
Former United and fellow winger Lee Sharpe told talkSPORT that while his age may have been a factor, he deemed the reaction “out of order” given how close his team came to bottling it. What did you make of the moment: perfectly acceptable given the circumstances or needless and ’embarrassing’?
It will now be a Manchester derby FA Cup final for the second year running and, one thing’s for sure, Erik ten Hag’s side can’t afford to make that many mistakes against Man City.
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You can watch the highlights from the frantic semi-final down below but, the better question is, which half of Manchester is going to leave with their hands on the trophy on 25 May?
Featured Images — BBC Sport/@MatthewStanger (via X)
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Cole Palmer wins Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester-born and bred footballer, Cole Palmer, has won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award for 2023/24 following a spectacular breakthrough campaign.
The ex-Manchester City youth product made his big-money move to Chelsea at the start of this season and has been comfortably one of the best players in the league this year, once again proving the old adage that if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
Sitting second in the race for the Golden Boot behind former teammate Erling Haaland and shining as one of the most creative midfielders in Europe in his first full season, you could have banked on him winning it months ago.
🔵⭐️ OFFICIAL: Cole Palmer wins the award as Premier League Young Player of the Year. 🧊
Chelsea star has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists in Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/HYpthQiOU3
Having bagged a hattrick in Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround against Manchester United as well as bagging four against Everton, just to name a couple of his most impressive performances over the past 12 months, he doesn’t like a player who only made a handful of appearances last year.
With the 22-year-old fittingly netting 22 goals not to mention 10 assists and quickly establishing himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s main man, despite the multi-billion squad assembled around him, it’s been nothing short of a remarkable emergence onto the biggest stage.
Having earned his first senior international call-up through his efforts too, he now looks set to be one the players England fans are dying to see start at the Euros – the point where many Blues are now wondering whether they made a mistake letting him go.
Congratulations to the Wythenshawe native on his well-deserved award and we sincerely look forward to seeing what he does in an England shirt this summer.
As for who will pick up the outright Premier League Player of the Year, surely Palmer picking up the youth award means that Phil Foden is set to mop up the main prize?
A clean sweep for Manc footballers. We like the sound of that.
Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes rematch confirmed as UFC’s main Manchester fight card is revealed
Danny Jones
Local fighter Tom Aspinall’s next opponent has finally been confirmed as the running order for the UFC’s return to Manchester has been revealed.
The Manc MMA star and interim heavyweight champion was always a certainty for his home event but with the main fight card for the UFC 304 at Co-op Live arena unveiled at last, we now know that the Salfordian will once again be facing off against Curtis Blaydes.
Not only will this be Aspinall‘s first title defence but it will also see the pair meet for the first time since their original 2022 bout was cut short just 15 seconds into the fight after the 31-year-old injured his knee and was unable to continue.
Civility aside, the two have had a score to settle ever since and judging by his reaction following the announcement, he’s clearly keen to finish what he started.
Now 14 wins into his career and with a belt to back it up, we’re expecting big things from the self-proclaimed ‘Honey Badger’ – especially with a name like that.
Fellow English fighters Leon Edwards and Scouse star Paddy Pimblett will all be joining Aspinall on the big night, showing just how much the UK MMA scene has grown.
Jamaican-born Brit Edwards, 32, is currently on a 13-fight unbeaten streak and will defend his welterweight title against American Belal Muhammad, who is also unbeaten in his last 10 fights.
Announcing the full 304 fight card on social media, UFC president Dana White described the Manchester crowds as “incredible” and there’s evident excitement around being the first sports event to grace the brand-new arena.
While there has been lots of criticism over the start times given that the fights will be taking place in the early hours for the benefit of American TV audiences, it’s still a huge deal to have the UFC coming back to 0161, especially with a Manchester native flying high at the top of the heavyweight division.
Not only is this the first time the franchise has been back to the city since 2016 but it’s also only the fourth time an event will have been held in the UK full stop.
Getting underway on Saturday, 27 July, Aspinall vs Blaydes II fight date is set to start at 3am local time and fans will be able to watch it live on TNT Sport.
As for those of you looking to go along and see the action in person, you can queue up to get your tickets HERE.