In the first half of last week’s victory over Chelsea in the Premier League, Antony was stretchered off.
Erik ten Hag worries that Manchester United forward Antony “unlikely” won’t make a full recovery in time for the FA Cup final matchup against Manchester City on Saturday. During the opening period of last week’s Premier League victory over Chelsea, Antony was stretchered off. In the first all-Manchester FA Cup final, United manager Ten Hag had hoped the Brazilian would be able to play City, who were going for the triple. However, Antony has made little progress this week and appears destined to sit out Wembley. Ten Hag told reporters on Friday that it was “unlikely” that he would be in shape. Although it’s a very slim chance, Dos Santos (Antony) still has a chance.
“He didn’t make the progress, so he still has a chance but unlikely he is available.”
The injured Anthony Martial’s season will also come to an end on the sidelines.
The 27-year-old tore a muscle in his hamstring near the conclusion of Sunday’s victory over Fulham, and scans revealed that he will miss the championship game.
Ten Hag is unwavering in his belief that United has the squad power to defeat longtime rivals City despite the fitness problems afflicting his club.
“These questions so many times about the absence of players in the last couple of months,” he said.
“Every time I say the same answer: it’s about the players who are available and many times we were successful.
“We have a good squad and from that good squad we make a good team.” Read Also: India beat Pakistan 2-1, break record for winning most Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup titles
After winning the League Cup in February, United is attempting the first-ever domestic cup double.
In the meantime, Premier League champions City have a chance to join United as the only English club to win all three major competitions in a single campaign.
On June 10, City and Inter Milan square off in the Champions League final.
As Pep Guardiola’s team strives to emulate Alex Ferguson’s 1999 treble-winning team, United supporters are keen for their team to put an end to those hopes.
“We want to win, we want to win a cup,” Ten Hag said. “It’s not about stopping them. It is about that we win, that we win the cup. We have a great opportunity.
“That’s great that we deserved that opportunity to be in the cup final and then meet Man City. That’s a great opportunity.
“We fought so hard for it. I think we progressed that well that we are in that FA Cup final.”
The first Manchester derby of the season was won by City 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium; in January, United rallied for a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag is well aware of the calibre of threat offered by City, who won a sixth title in six seasons and finished 14 points behind United.
“They play very good football, so they deserve it. Of course I look at others because they are opponents and I evaluate it, but we look to ourselves,” he said.
“We make very good progress, we are in a good direction and now we use the coming period as well.
“Now we get the opportunity in the summer to make new targets, new goals on the short term.
“But the longer term, yeah, that will stay the same. As I said last year, we want to restore Man United but we have a way to go.”
