Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of control at Galatasaray
Manchester United winger Antony showed his true colours during Wednesday’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League. The 23-year-old started as United fell on the brink of Group A elimination, but he impressed for more reasons than one.
Antony replaced the suspended Marcus Rashford alongside Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund in Erik ten Hag’s attack.
He produced one of his best performances since joining the club in a £85million deal last summer but couldn’t prevent a disastrous draw.
United were 2-0 and 3-1 ahead at RAMS Park but failed to win the third group game in which they surrendered two leads this season.
Garnacho silenced the hostile home supporters by firing his second goal in as many games past Fernando Muslera after 11 minutes.
But Galatasaray fans weren’t silenced for too long. Days after replicating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Siu after his incredible bicycle kick at Goodison Park, Garnacho performed another of his idol’s celebrations.
The 19-year-old gestured for the home fans to calm down as he wheeled away in jubilation, riling up those behind the goal and prompting missiles to be thrown towards United’s players.
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As Garnacho was circled by his teammates near the corner flag, footage showed Antony breaking away to gesture to the Galatasaray supporters.
The Brazil international put his hands together before raising them with a sincere look on his face as if apologising for the teenager’s celebration.
It was a moment of class that United fans might not like but it showed the struggling No 21’s true colours during a difficult spell in his career.
Bruno Fernandes doubled United’s lead shortly after providing the assist for Garnacho’s opener with a sensational long-range strike.
But then – like in Copenhagen – chaos ensued. Andre Onana will have been disappointed to concede Hakim Ziyech’s first free-kick goal as the ball flew through the wall, wrong-footing the 27-year-old.
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Ten minutes after half-time, Scott McTominay restored United’s two-goal cushion before Onana produced an even worse blunder from another Ziyech free-kick on the hour mark.
Ziyech then turned creator for Kerem Akturkoglu, who implanted a dagger in Red Devils hearts by beating Onana from range with a stunning touch and finish.
Ten Hag is now staring a Champions League group-stage exit in the face unless his side beat Bayern Munich and Galatasaray draw at Copenhagen on the final matchday.
He will have taken optimism from Antony’s performance, though, ahead of another daunting away test at Newcastle United on Saturday.
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