Ruben Amorim explains why Man Utd flop Antony is thriving on loan at Real Betis as coach laments the absence of ‘strong core’ at Old Trafford

Ruben Amorim explains why Man Utd flop Antony is thriving on loan at Real Betis as coach laments the absence of ‘strong core’ at Old Trafford

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has explained Antony’s impressive start to life on loan at Real Betis after failing at Old Trafford.

After being loaned out of Manchester United, the Brazilian has two goals and two player of the match accolades in just three appearances at Real Betis.He scored in Betis’ 3-0 win over Gent in the Conference League on Thursday.

The winger had only scored one goal for the Red Devils this season, a penalty against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, and had only 12 goals in 96 appearances since joining from Ajax for £86 million ($108 million) in 2022, making him one of the club’s worst buys.

Antony is far from alone in having a new lease of life since leaving Old Trafford. Scott McTominay has scored six goals and set up a further two for Serie A leaders Napoli this season.

Anthony Elanga is also lighting up Nottingham Forest’s incredible campaign after failing to make a lasting impact at United following an exciting breakthrough campaign under Ralf Rangnick.

WHAT AMORIM SAID
Amorim told a press conference: “I don’t know, sometimes it’s like that, it can happen with any club.

This club has a lot of pressure and you have to have a base of a team to put younger and talented players that came from abroad to help them.

If you are playing better as a team, and you have a strong core, like it’s supposed to be at this club, it will be more easy for these kind of players to play football.”

United are having a terrible season on and off the pitch. The Red Devils are currently 13th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham, on course for their lowest league finish since 1990.

And the club is increasingly unstable financially, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe planning another 200 job losses. Amorim said he was trying to just focus on the next game but admitted the Red Devils had deep-seated issues. He said: “Our biggest problem now is Tottenham, we know the moment of the club, I have to understand these problems, but these problems in our club are not new. We have a problem at the moment, but that cannot influence how I coach the team and prepare for the next game.”

Amorim said: “He wants to play football in the right way and that’s a good thing. We know when we choose this profession there are a lot of good things, but you have to feel the pressure when you don’t win.

I am a huge fan of Ange Postecoglou. He is a good guy, a very good coach. I understand the connection with me and Ange. We have the same problem. In my opinion, and with respect, I am at a bigger club, with bigger pressure, and I think coaches must follow their principles.”