Amad, Antony, and Manchester United: Unpacking Erik ten Hag’s Complicated Love Triangle
Erik ten Hag was hardly the Luis Enrique or the Mauricio Pochettino the people wanted in 2022 after Ralf Rangnick left for Austria. Ten Hag wasn’t the high-profile name people usually associate with the United job. You think of Jose Mourinho, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson – names reverently echoed in the halls of great managers. You don’t think of Ten Hag, who didn’t have much of a track record outside of the Eredivisie.
Coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory, where they sacked Ole Gunnar Solksjær and removed Rangnick from his consultancy role, United wanted change. They got it in the 52-year-old ten Hag, who boasted three Eredivisie titles and a Champions League semifinal berth with Ajax. He hasn’t won the Champions League, the World Cup, or mentored Ronaldo. But, he was truly the most qualified for the United job.
Ten Hag imposed his own culture on United. For starters, his team played more directly and forward. They often sat deep in a low block, waiting for the perfect moment to counter-attack and explode through the vulnerable wide areas with players like Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford. Ten Hag told reporters he wanted his team to be the best transition team in the world, and it wasn’t too surprising. In Ten Hag’s debut season in Old Trafford, his Red Devils led the Premier League in counter-attacking goals.
Secondly, Ten Hag controlled the locker room with a heavy fist. Ten Hag said there was no culture control in United’s locker room under Solskjær. Under ten Hag, players see him to squash any qualms – in previous years, players would go to the media. Ten Hag ripped up Ronaldo’s contract after his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. He’s delivered strict warnings to Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Marcus Rashford.
The results have been mixed. After inheriting the bloated, disorganized United squad that finished sixth in 2021/22, ten Hag shelled out $263 million and secured a third-place finish. They made the FA Cup final and the Europa League quarterfinals. They claimed big wins over the rest of the Premier League’s big six. Although they did have their biggest loss ever (7-0 to Liverpool) and some of their signings (Ronaldo and Antony) drastically underperformed, they looked in business.
Ten Hag drastically underperformed in his sophomore season. United had their worst Champions League performance, finishing with just four points in six group-stage games. They finished eighth with a negative goal differential, their worst Premier League season in years.
Their transition-oriented offense gave way to the same difficulties Solksjær suffered — a weakness to opposing counter-attacks. United seriously considered sacking Ten Hag before his victory in the FA Cup final — a 2-1 win over City where United were forced on the back foot throughout the match.
He was two goals away from an untimely exit from Old Trafford, and with a do-or-die third season impending, he needs to succeed in the Premier League. One of his most important battles comes on the pitch as he sorts out who his starting right-winger will be.
For a time, one could say Antony would take on that role. And, to their credit, it would be a match made in heaven. The promising winger who grew up next to drug dealers and crooked police in one of Brazil’s most infamous favelas — Inferninho, or little hell — would lead the Red Devils’ front line at Old Trafford. Antony wore the bad boy image that paired with United’s flamboyant nature. Bleached blond hair, arm sleeve tattoos, and an unmissable, outspoken personality — Antony seemed perfect for a United.
He followed the route of Kaká, Casemiro, and more by graduating from São Paulo’s academy and making a name for himself in the Brasileirão. He landed a $17 million move to Ajax and grew exponentially under Ajax manager Erik ten Hag. Antony scored ten goals and added ten assists in 46 total appearances. He achieved unparalleled success after, leading the Brazilian Olympic team to a gold medal in Tokyo and scoring on his debut with the Brazilian senior team.
When Ten Hag went to United in 2022, Antony followed for a fee of $103 million. Confident, flashy, fearless. There was legitimate reason to believe that Antony could be the next great Premier League attacker, competing with the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Salah.
His play declined after he reached Old Trafford. Although he became the first United player to score in his first three games for the club, he drew criticism for his diving, his cockiness, and his silly skills. His best moments in a United jersey came in the Europa League.
With the game tied 1-1 against Barcelona, United needs a goal to avoid extra time. United has the ball in the box, ping-ponging it with blocked shots. The ball bounced to super-sub Antony on the edge of the box. What follows is almost poetic. The ball bounces high as Antony, highlighted by his lightning-white hair, takes a big stride towards the ball. He flings his arms back, cocks back his left foot, and thunders a half-volley goal-bound.
Alejandro Balde braces for impact, but the ball swerves past him, and the stunned Barça defense bounces past ter Stegen and nestles the ball in the bottom left corner. He smiles, beats his chest, and shushes the camera. Calm and composed didn’t always go hand-in-hand with the passionate Antony, but they did that day.
The Brazilian didn’t grow during his second season. Although Ten Hag stationed Antony on his favored right wing, he struggled to run outside with his right foot, relying on his left. Off-field accusations of domestic violence from his former partner and influencer Gabriela Cavallin clouded his play.
Antony was expected to play to the level of his $103 million price tag, but in 38 games with United, he has scored three goals and added two assists. His production was frightening, he looked out of form for most of the season, and he saw more time on the bench than ever.
He had his moments though. He scored in United’s FA Cup win over Liverpool, swiveling past three different Liverpool defenders and flicking a shot past the keeper to send the match into extra-time. He came up big against Chelsea, assisting Garnacho’s goal to give United a short-lived lead. He’s not all bad, but his season has been more gloomy than good.
So, as United took on Betis in Wednesday’s late-night friendly, Ten Hag recruited a fresh face from the past to start the match: Amad. Some years ago, Amad would have been the dictionary’s definition of disappointing. And you wouldn’t be wrong. Despite sealing a $23 million move to arguably the world’s biggest club at the tender age of 18, for some years, Amad took some time to mature.
Brief glimmers on the bench preceded a forgettable loan to Rangers. He then left on a season-long loan to Sunderland, where he dazzled. Even if he did have nearly 20 goal contributions in 27 games for Atalanta, or if he earned comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo by ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand, Amad could always be another flash in the pan, right?
It couldn’t be more false two years later. Amad is weeks away from assuming the legendary winger role in Erik ten Hag’s United squads, and it looked evident in United’s friendly loss to Betis in Inglewood. An American crowd of 26,000 chanted Amad’s name, ooh-ing as he sized up defenders, aah-ing as he inevitably beat them on the dribble, roaring as he belted shots past the defense.
He played like United’s first-choice winger against Betis. Stationed at the right-wing slot, Amad was tasked with attacking the space left by the opposing left-backs and leading United’s frequent counters. He did all that, asserting himself as United’s conduit of offense. Amad looked potent off the dribble, lethal both cutting inside and hugging the byline.
The Ivorian won a penalty for United after he beat Romain Perraud off the dribble, cut inside, and collapsed under pressure in the box. He got on the receiving end of Harry Amass’ bouncing corner, took a strong first touch, and laced a strike into the bottom left corner to score United’s second goal. Not to mention the incisive dribbles, the intuitive through-balls, and the dogged pressing. Amad was everywhere. He hardly put a foot wrong.
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Amad walked off Snapdragon Stadium to a standing ovation and raucous applause. The once-venerated, now-disrespected Antony came to replace him. With one of the first opportunities for the Brazilian to get on the ball — a chipped Toby Collyer through ball — Antony fails to control the tame, bouncing ball and sends out for a throw-in.
Although he presses hard and tracks back tenaciously, he struggles to get involved in the game. When he does, he’s reduced to backward passes. The biggest highlight of his night in San Diego was some fancy dribbling that led to a foul outside the box. Antony left the match in the 85th minute with a face that struggled to hide frustration and disappointment. He suffered an ostensible hand injury on Wednesday, and the full extent of his injury is unknown.
Ten Hag knows what he has to do ahead of his Premier League. It’s a gutsy move that will concede he made a poor decision to buy Antony for $103 million, but it could earn him another trophy later down the road. It would help him prioritize the future, end their attacking woes, and get them back into the top four of the Premier League. Bench Antony.
By: Deolu Akingbade / @AkingbadeDeolu
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images