Antony must improve consistency to become a top-class player — Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has called on Manchester United winger Antony to add consistency to his game in order to become a world-class player.

Antony, 23, played a major role in both of United’s goals on Sunday as they ran out 2-0 winners over Nottingham Forest.

The former Ajax forward scored the opening goal in the 32nd minute and claimed an assist for Diogo Dalot’s first ever Premier League goal.

Ten Hag was pleased with Antony’s display but urged the Brazilian to put in that kind of performance on a regular basis.

Speaking after the 2-0 win, Ten Hag said: “He knows, I know as well, when you are a striker, you need end product. But already he had quite a lot of end product, he scored in all competitions now, eight goals, first year at United is not bad and still games to go.

“But he has to do it, I can’t say in every game, but many games if you want to be a top-class player and especially in all the competitions. In the Premier League, there are a lot of quality defenders and you have to act on a really high level. It is a lot about scanning, taking the right decision. There is only a split moment where you have to take that decision. He has to step up. Today was an example where, with both goals, he made the right decision.

“In the start, he had one or two moments where he should have passed to Christian Eriksen. It’s so important in top football, the timing, the right moment to bring the pass is huge, it makes every impact, it makes the difference between a goal and no goal.

“The goal he made, he was in the right spot, in the right moment to get the rebound. The second goal was a great team goal, how we built that up, the way Antony did it to bring the pass and in the right moment to bring the pass and the movement from Diogo was fantastic, it was good to see.”

Ten Hag likened Antony, his former Ajax player who he bought for £85million last summer, to Arjen Robben due to the fact he is left-footed right winger who cuts inside.

“First, I know he can also use his right, he has to do it more, but the second, I think there was in the week, he can also go outside,” added Ten Hag.

“But he is so good on the inside. So I’ve seen, for instance, Arjen Robben a lot. They say he has only one trick but in that one trick was so brilliant no one can 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 don’t think they’re so difficult to defend so he has to keep doing that.”

Antony and his Manchester United team-mates are next in action on Thursday when they face Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

United travel to Spain with the scoreline level after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

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