Although it wouldn’t prove to be the match-winner, Saturday’s game against Burnley was a bit of a lift for Antony personally as he finally registered his first league goal of the season.
After the match, the Brazilian answered several questions from journalists, including about the pressure surrounding the price tag of £86.3 million, which United will have paid for him in the summer of 2022.
– It (the transfer fee) doesn’t really affect me, because I know my value, money is money, and of course everyone talks about it. No one would do that if everyone’s and my performances were top notch.
– Then you just have to work harder. I know I can do better, I know my worth and I want to show it.
The criticism against Antony is and has been great, but the winger does not dig himself for that reason.
– The critics will always exist, and that is something that makes me want to work harder, and prove something to myself. I will continue to work, give everything for the group, because the most important thing is to have a good mentality and be focused.
In a total of 36 games this season, there have been no more than three goals, and in February Erik ten Hag also said, among other things, that the 24-year-old “had to step up”.
– It has been a very tough year for me, and for the team. The results have not been what we expected.
– I am someone who copes with criticism very well, and I want to work on it and believe that we must all focus on finishing the season as well as we can.
There are now four league games left of the season, before the FA Cup final against Manchester City on 25 May.
– We know we have a final that we want to win, but we have to get better to make it. We still have five games left and we have to think game by game, to get better and get the best possible finish.
