Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended Antony against criticism of his performances since joining the club.

The Brazilian has been criticized for his lack of production, having scored only five goals in 19 appearances since his £86 million transfer from Ajax.

Recently, Antony’s appearance has come under scrutiny.

As a result of the deal, he became the club’s second-most expensive signing in its entire history.

At times, Antony’s play on the wing has been spectacular, but his contribution in the final third has been lacking.

“It’s all flash and no substance at the moment,” Darren Bent declared on talkSPORT. Despite his efforts, he is not making any progress. He is not trying to move the ball past someone; he is simply doing it for the sake of doing it.

At the time, I thought, ‘Oh come on, it’s just a spin’ in reference to the spin.

When asked if he planned to become a “YouTube player,” he stated that he did not. “A little bit,” Bent responded. You upload a footballer’s best moments to YouTube with the thought, “I can’t believe we’re signing him!”

“But where is the substance in between, the conclusion? I am aware that he had a good start with United, scoring a few goals, but where is the end product?”

Antony’s start at Manchester United was impressive, but things have since slowed down.

During his press conference prior to Manchester United’s League Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, which will be broadcast live on talkSPORT, Ten Hag has now defended the winger.

Ten Hag stated, “When he’s on the field, the team wins. “That alone demonstrates how well he is performing.

“He has room for improvement, in my opinion. For instance, and I assume you are aware of this, we would like him to be more direct and involved. However, as stated previously, the team performs better with him on the field.

“That’s a good thing, a solid foundation upon which to build. I believe he has made progress already. Three goals were scored in his first three league games.

“Now he has scored against Everton and Charlton, so he has an impact in that regard as well. I believe he is capable of accomplishing even more with his skills and abilities. However, as stated previously, I believe he has made a significant contribution to the team.”