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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Man United news: Antony likened to legendary winger with ‘one brilliant trick’ by Erik ten Hag

Manchester United winger Antony has been compared to Arjen Robben by Erik ten Hag, who wants to see the Brazilian develop his game beyond “one brilliant trick”.

The Dutch legend, formerly of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea, enjoyed a fine career that was largely powered by his ability to cut in from the right wing and unleash a devastating shot or cross with his left foot.

Antony is in a similar mould to Robben and can already boast a number of spectacular strikes in his debut season at United.

However, Ten Hag believes the 23-year-old is able to be a threat on both his right and left foot.

“I know he can also use his right [foot], he has to do it more,” Ten Hag told reporters. “But he can also go outside.

“He is so good on the inside. So I've seen, for instance, Arjen Robben a lot. They say he had only one trick but that one trick was so brilliant no one could stop it.

“We have to emphasise, of course, if you can go both ways you have more variations, you are more difficult to stop.

“But to improve the trick you are really good at, his first yards with the ball as he dribbles are so outstanding I think they're so difficult to defend. So he has to keep doing that.”

Antony netted the opener as United downed Nottingham Forest on Sunday, before laying on the assist for Diogo Dalot’s goal.

The Red Devils are third in the Premier League table and sit comfortably in the top four ahead of their Europa League quarter-final trip to Sevilla.

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