Erik ten Hag compares Man Utd winger with ex-Chelsea star after Nottingham Forest win

Erik ten Hag has compared Manchester United star Antony with ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben.

The Red Devils boss was speaking after his side won 2-0 away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with Antony netting the first and setting up Diogo Dalpt in the second half as United moved into third in the Premier League.

Ten Hag was delighted with the performance of the Brazilian, who caused Forest repeated problems during the afternoon, but did highlight one area he feels Antony could have improved on at the City Ground. “The goal he made, he was in the right spot, in the right moment to get the rebound,” said the United boss.

“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.

“In the start, he had one or two moments where he should have passed to Christian Eriksen,” Ten Hag added. “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.”

While Antony put in a fantastic showing on Sunday, he hasn’t always been so impressive this season and a regular criticism has been his inability to use his right foot. However, Ten Hag claimed the attacker’s proficiency to cut inside has proved to be a difficult skill for opposition sides to stop.

“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,” claimed the Dutchman. “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.”