ANT ADMITS: THE CRITICS FIRED ME UP

ANTONY reckons stinging criticism helped inspire his FA Cup heroics and battle to prove his worth at Manchester United.

The Brazilian attacker has struggled to live up to his billing after a huge £85million move from Ajax in 2022.

He has had high-profile off-field issues as well and often failed to make a mark at Old Trafford.

But he struck a crucial equaliser to send Sunday’s epic battle with Liverpool into extra-time and put United on the road to a famous win.

The 24 year-old admitted: “It has been a period of a lot of learning.

“I try to learn from each criticism, understand where I can improve. I have been working silently to evolve and show my football on the field.

“I know my potential and I know why Manchester United hired me. I want to repay all of this on the field.

“My team-mates are giving me a lot of confidence, my family too.

“This is important and gives me a lot of confidence.

“In the opportunity the coach gave me, I managed to be decisive and help. I’m grateful to Manchester United, it was my lifelong dream to be here.”

It was only Antony’s second goal of the season, with the other coming earlier in their FA Cup run at

Newport.

But after helping set up a semi-final clash with Coventry, he said: “It was a very important goal.

“It gave us the chance to go to extra-time and try to win.

“Personally, it was a very important moment for me.

“I needed that goal. At no point did I stop thinking about working.

“It’s games like this that show our values and I believe this will motivate everyone for the season.

“It was a game where we had to help the team in every way and I managed to score the equaliser.”

After the 4-3 win, Antony revealed: “I have also been training my right leg, to make it better and I have done my best to help in the defence, acting as a winger.

“It was a time for everyone to donate, whatever their position. We came together there and achieved an incredible turnaround.”