Manchester United faced heartbreak in the Community Shield as they lost to Manchester City on penalties after a dramatic 89th-minute equalizer from Bernardo Silva. Despite an early lead, United couldn’t hold on, and missed penalties from Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans handed the victory to City.
Erik ten Hag made some surprising tactical decisions, deploying Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo on the wings, with Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench. Facundo Pellistri even made an appearance at right-back, but one player was notably absent from the action: Antony.
The Brazilian winger, who joined United for a hefty £85 million from Ajax two years ago, was left on the bench for the entire match. This snub raises questions about Antony’s place in the squad, especially with Garnacho and Diallo emerging as preferred options for the right-wing position.
Antony has struggled to make a significant impact since his arrival, managing just 11 goals and 5 assists in 82 appearances. With competition heating up, Ten Hag’s decision to bench him could be a signal that the Brazilian needs to step up or risk falling further down the pecking order.
Antony must take this setback as motivation to improve in training if he hopes to regain his spot in the starting lineup. If he fails to do so, his future at Old Trafford could be in jeopardy.Antony’s situation at Manchester United is indeed becoming increasingly concerning, especially after being left on the bench during the Community Shield loss to Manchester City. Erik ten Hag’s decision to start Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo on the wings, with Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench, suggests that the Brazilian winger may no longer be considered a first-choice option.
Antony’s underwhelming statistics—11 goals and 5 assists in 82 appearances—don’t justify the hefty £85 million investment United made to bring him from Ajax. His inability to consistently influence games, coupled with the rise of younger talents like Garnacho and Diallo, is putting his position in the squad under serious threat.
Ten Hag’s tactical choices in the Community Shield could be seen as a clear message to Antony: he needs to elevate his game or risk losing his spot in the team. With the competition for places intensifying, Antony must seize every opportunity to impress, both in training and in any minutes he gets on the pitch. Otherwise, his future at Old Trafford could be at risk, potentially leading to speculation about his long-term role in the squad or even a possible exit from the club.
