Manchester United forward Antony has sent a defiant message after the club’s FA Cup final defeat.
United faced Manchester City in the FA Cup final for the first time ever and it was Pep Guardiola’s side who struck first through Ilkay Gundogan. The City skipper scored the fastest-ever goal in the final after just 12 seconds to put United immediately on the back foot, though the two sides headed in level at the break through a controversial penalty that was awarded at Jack Grealish’s expense after the VAR instructed referee Paul Tierney to review a possible handball.
Bruno Fernandes scored United’s equaliser from the spot but Gundogan put City back in front early in the second half with another volley which proved to be the match-winner. It meant that United’s campaign ended in defeat at Wembley but winger Antony was eager to point out the progress that the club has made under Erik ten Hag this season.
United lifted the Carabao Cup in February and achieved a third-place finish in the Dutchman’s first season in charge. Antony was one of the club’s big-money signings last summer, reuniting with his former Ajax boss at Old Trafford, and the Brazil international insisted that United will continue to improve this summer.
“Proud of our team!!" he wrote on Twitter, despite being denied a cup double. "A very intense season!! We were champions, we are back in the Champions League. We will be even stronger next season!! Proud to be United.”
Antony was absent from the matchday squad at Wembley due to the leg injury he suffered against Chelsea, leaving Jadon Sancho and Fernandes to occupy the wide berths for United. The 23-year-old showed plenty of promise throughout his debut season in England, ending the campaign with eight goals and three assists in 44 games across all competitions.
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