Antony slammed for riling up Sevilla as Manchester United fall to pieces in Europa League

Manchester United winger Antony has been called out for riling up Sevilla which led to Erik ten Hag’s side Old Trafford capitulation.

The Premier League looked to have one foot in the Europa League semi-finals, only to be stunned at the death where they conceded two own goals.

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And to make matters worse for United, they lost defenders Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane to injury ahead of next week’s second leg in Spain.

Meanwhile, playmaker Bruno Fernandes will miss the return fixture after picking up a yellow card that means he is suspended.

talkSPORT host Jason Cundy believes Antony’s showboating and repeated clashes with Marcos Acuna pumped up Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side in the latter stages to get an unlikely result.

The ex-Chelsea defender has blamed Antony for Sevilla’s dramatic turnaround, despite the £85million signing not even being on the pitch when Sevilla scored their goals.

Ten Hag had taken him off having been warned by the referee he was on a yellow card.

Speaking on The Sports Bar, Cundy said: “Oh my god, what’s happened there tonight?

“We’re watching the game and they are in complete control, I want to know from Man United fans about Antony.

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“If he was playing for Chelsea, listen he’s technically a very good footballer, what’s he doing messing with people?

“What’s he doing showboating – giving it the big ‘un’? He’s got to start proving himself by the way for that price tag.

“And he’s giving it all the big ‘un’, he’s pumping his fists, going to the crowd, the crowd are doing it, ten minutes later it’s 2-2.

“He would wind me up. If he was playing in my team, he would wind me up.”

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Agreeing with his view, co-host Jamie O’Hara simply stated: “I agree.”

Cundy then remarked: “He’s a good player, still yet to prove his worth – whatever they paid for him.

“But come on! Don’t be doing that! Do not be doing that at home when you’re cruising at 2-0.

“2-0 is one of those scorelines that lulls you into that false sense of security, because you think it’s done – it ain’t done! It’s definitely not done.

“At 2-1, we was watching that thinking, ‘what if they get a second?’ And within seconds they get the second.”

O’Hara then insisted that the blame cannot lie with Harry Maguire for Sevilla’s equaliser, after the ball smashed off his face and beyond David de Gea into the back of the net.

Speaking of the substitute, he said: “Poor Harry Maguire, it comes off his head, there’s not much he can do about it. It just sums his season up.”

But not being done with his critique of Antony, Cundy added: “It’s bad luck, but Antony… if I was a United, fan, I’d have mixed emotions about him.

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“Technically great, I love the way he moves his feet, but come on, what are you doing? Why are you riling the opposition? Why are you doing that?”

Defending his view later on in the show, Cundy stated: “I’m not digging out Antony, what frustrates me, what I saw, is you’re 2-0 up.

“Sometimes footballers do things to get the crowd behind them, there was a battle between him and the full-back, they both got booked.

“All that’s happened, ten minutes later he gets taken off, and ten minutes later it’s 2-2. Don’t do that, just stick to what you’re good at.

“Whether he’s worth £80million, only time will tell on that one. I’m not judging him as a footballer, what I’m saying is, stick to what you’re good at, don’t be doing all that.

“You ain’t that great you can start doing that right now.”