On Sunday, when Manchester United’s winning penalty reached the back of the net, Antony’s celebration caused controversy.
The FA Cup semi-final was a weird day for Manchester United and despite winning the game on penalties, there were few in red celebrating.
This is likely because of the disappointing nature in which United dealt with the challenge of Coventry, throwing away a 3-0 lead.
Coventry even nearly stole the final spot away, with a controversial offside in the dying moments of extra time taking the game to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, it was Rasmus Hojlund who scored the winner, but Antony stole the headlines, for all the wrong reasons.
The Brazilian celebrated the win by cupping his ears at the Coventry players, a gesture which many labelled as being in bad faith given Coventry is a league below.
Now, he’s broken his silence over the situation…
Antony sends a message addressing his penalty win celebrations
Antony took to X on Tuesday to explain his celebrations, considering how they have remained a talking point for more than two days now.
He wrote: “Coventry proved why they reached the semi-final. We seeked this spot in the final for our fans and we achieved.
“The way our fans were treated by their player was not nice and I, in the heat of the moment, I’ve reacted to the provocations in a natural defence of my club!”
From this, we can determine that he is blaming the celebrations of Haji Wright, who did a similar celebration upon scoring his penalty, for the celebration he did himself.
Antony tweeted this in response to Erik ten Hag explaining the incident himself.
Erik ten Hag also explains Antony’s celebration for Manchester United
Speaking in his press conference on Tuesday, as you’d expect, Ten Hag was quizzed over his side collapse at Wembley and also Antony’s celebration.
He said: “He was provoked, that’s why this was a reaction of that, you haven’t seen the provocation, only the reaction. But he should not do it.”
The consensus within United is that Antony was responding to provocation, which he may have been.
However, even if it was in response to provocation, United should be better than this, we should be setting the bar instead of stooping below it.
A Championship side took us to penalties and that was his reaction, it’s not a good look.