Scholes reveals concept on what Antony’s three fingers to Mount meant
- Antony made a three-fingered gesture to Mount after Man United’s 4-0 defeat
- Paul Scholes thinks he knows what Antony was trying to tell his team-mate
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Paul Scholes believes Antony was questioning Erik ten Hag when he held three fingers up at Mason Mount following Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.
The United legend thinks the Antony was making a tactical point in a hushed discussion following the drubbing, with him and Mount covering their mouths.
Further pressure was piled on manager Ten Hag by the loss, as Michael Olise scored twice and Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell got in on the act to leave United floundering in eighth.
Mail Sport understands that Ten Hag will not be sacked prior to the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25, but some players thin his fate has been sealed.
‘He is saying something to Mason Mount he is obviously not happy with. Mason Mount seems the quietest out of the three of them,’ Scholes told Optus Sports on the chat between Antony, Mount, and Andre Onana.
Antony made a three-finger gesture to Mason Mount after Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace
Paul Scholes believes Antony used his three-finger gesture to criticise Erik ten Hag’s tactics
‘What’s that going to do, I didn’t see any of them communicating on the football pitch. That doesn’t look good. I don’t think that’s good for the manager.
‘People are obviously talking and saying things he [Antony] doesn’t agree with. When he’s putting those three fingers up, maybe he’s saying we should be having three in midfield, why don’t we have three there?
‘I don’t know, we have no idea because we can’t lip read. But there is obviously a problem there and they obviously disagree with something the manager is doing.’
Ten Hag has had to deal with behavioural issues during his tenure at Old Trafford and has come down strongly on Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho.
At this point he needs full discipline from his players with United in danger of their lowest finish since the 1989-90 season.
Jamie Carragher was furious with Antony’s conduct following the thrashing at Selhurst Park.
‘Just get off the pitch,’ Carragher told Monday Night Football.
‘Talking, whispering behind your hand – you’ve just been absolutely awful. They are probably talking about one of the players – somebody else, the set-up or the manager. Just shut up and get in.
Erik ten Hag is in danger of guiding United to their lowest league finish since the 1989-80 season
Michael Olise struck twice as Crystal Palace continued their fine form under Oliver Glasner
Jamie Carragher ripped into Antony for whispering to his team-mates about the performance
‘You’ve been beaten 4-0. Whispering, talking about other players. Honestly, embarrassing.’
Antony has failed to come anywhere close to repaying the £86million United spent to sign him from Ajax in 2022.
The 24-year-old has followed up a limp debut campaign with an even worse season in which he has recorded three goals and two assists in 37 games.
As for Palace, they continue their fine form under Oliver Glasner, who replaced Roy Hodgson in February. The Eagles extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games, while Mateta has nine goals in his last six appearances at home.
