Ruben Amorim set to play Antony at wing-back at Manchester United
Antony finds himself in the last-chance saloon at Manchester United
Antony finds himself in the last-chance saloon at Manchester United, with manager Ruben Amorim reportedly planning to utilise the £82 million signing as a wing-back ahead of a pivotal January transfer window.
After enduring a challenging two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, Antony started in Amorim’s first home game in charge, a nervy 3-2 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt.
The Red Devils lined up in Amorim’s favored 3-4-3 formation, deploying Antony and Tyrell Malacia as wing-backs.
This marked a new role for the former Ajax winger, who is rumored to be available for transfer in January.
Encouragingly for Antony, Amorim appeared impressed by his performance.
The manager noted that the 24-year-old would still operate as a winger during certain phases of play.
Speaking about Antony’s display and that of substitute Amad, Amorim shared: “Today, Amad and Antony, they acted like a winger, and they stay open.
“What I want is a good one against one, to open the field, to play, to close the field when we lose the ball. And it is the same in every team. I think the structure is more fluid than you guys think with the three defenders.”
Amorim added: “Today, we finished today without any centre-backs, so it was Casemiro, [Noussair] Mazraoui and Luke Shaw.
“I think it is more the characteristics of the players and not the real positions of the players.
“Today, if I ask you guys what system I use, you saw more 4-4-2 [when we were] defending, I think? You agree? Then we put two wide players like the other 20 teams in the league. You have to change the characteristics.”
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