LONDON: Antony continued his impressive form at Real Betis by scoring against Gent in the Europa Conference League play-off.
The 24-year-old, who failed to make it to Manchester United, joined the Spanish club on loan last month after struggling at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian found the net in his second appearance for Betis against Celta Vigo last weekend, having provided an assist on his debut.
He continued his resurgence by scoring a stunning goal to give his loan side the lead in Belgium earlier this morning.
Less than two minutes after the break, the winger received a pass on the right wing before deflecting a stunning left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the opponent’s goal.
Fans online were quick to comment on Antony’s goal.
One fan said: “United are the ones in trouble.”
While the second criticized: “Now it’s clear United are ruining every player.”
A third fan wrote: “It’s crazy what confidence can do to a player.”
Real Betis chief executive officer Ramon Alcaron admitted his team were interested in signing Antony permanently.
The former Ajax star is under contract at United until June 2027.
MADRID: Barcelona will have to make a deal with Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals when Real Madrid meet Real Sociedad.
It is the first time since 2014 that Spain’s top three teams have advanced to the last four, with Real Sociedad also in the group.
Barcelona, who have a record of 31 titles and last lifted the trophy in 2021, are scheduled to host Diego Simeone’s squad for the first leg of the semi-final before visiting their opponents at the Metropolitano stadium.
Atletico, who are second in La Liga and one point ahead of the Catalan giants, last lifted the trophy in 2013 and have won the title 10 times.
Spanish and European champions Real Madrid, who have a record 20 titles, are scheduled to visit San Sebastian for the first leg before hosting Real Sociedad afterwards.
Real Sociedad have only lifted the trophy twice, most recently in the 2020 edition.
The first semi-final is scheduled to take place on February 25 and 26, while the return leg is scheduled for April 1 and 2.
LONDON: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted that winger Alejandro Garnacho has regained his trust after showing a significant improvement since being sidelined in the derby win over Manchester City last December.
In that match, Amorim surprised many when he dropped Garnacho and Marcus Rashford from the squad that won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
However, unlike Garnacho who has recovered and improved his performance, Rashford is still in a period of isolation and has hinted at wanting to leave Old Trafford.
Amorim, on the other hand, stressed that the England star needs to improve his level of play if he wants to return to the team.
Garnacho, 20, proved his commitment when he came on as a substitute and created the assist for Kobbie Mainoo in United’s 2-0 Europa League win over FCSB earlier this morning.
According to Amorim, Garnacho’s change in attitude since being sidelined in the match against City was the main factor in him regaining trust.
“He changed immediately after that match. The way he understood the situation, accepted that I just wanted to help and win the match,” Amorim said.
“He’s changed in everything, the way he talks, the way he recovers after games.”
The former Sporting Lisbon coach also admitted that he often urged Garnacho to be more consistent, in contrast to the approach of former manager Erik ten Hag, who used him more often in the starting lineup.
RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record with Al-Nassr after he scored twice in their 3-1 win over Al-Khaleej yesterday.
The victory means his team has jumped to third place in the Saudi Pro League, now with 32 points and in good position to book a place in the AFC Elite Champions League.
However, it is quite far compared to the leader Al-Hilal who is superior with 43 points.
The all-time leading goalscorer scored his 918th and 919th career goals and now has 13 league goals this season, surpassing Al-Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in the race for the golden boot.
Ronaldo, 39, has now completed more than 100 goal contributions for the Saudi Arabian club – 101 in 92 matches, including 83 goals and 18 assists.
While most famous footballers would be happy to make more history, he has no qualms about chasing a single record.
He now only needs 81 goals to become the first player to score 1,000 goals in his career.
Al-Nassr won on the road, helped by Saeed Al-Hamsal’s red card in the 35th minute.
The score was tied without a goal before Ronaldo scored two goals.
Al Khaleej hit back when Konstantinos Fortounis converted a penalty in the 80th minute, before their hopes of a comeback were dashed just a minute later by Sultan Al Ghanam, who scored Al Nassr’s third goal.
MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim labelled his team the worst in the club’s history after their 10th Premier League defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 3-1 defeat left United in 13th place in the league and heading towards their worst finish in the Premier League era.
Brighton comfortably won and United have now collected just 11 points from a possible 33 since Amorim joined them from Sporting in November. It is the first time since the 1989-90 season that they have lost 10 of their opening 22 league games.
“Imagine how Manchester United fans feel now. Imagine how I feel. We’ve got a new manager who’s lost more than the previous manager (Erik ten Hag). I’m aware of that.
“But I wouldn’t change it for a moment. I know we can succeed, but we have to get through this. I’m not naive and I know we have to get through this.
“We are the worst team, probably, in the history of Manchester United. I know you want the headlines, but I say that because we need to realise that and change it,” said Amorim.
The 20-time English champions have collected just 26 points from 22 games this season. Their worst finish in the Premier League era was eighth place last season.
Amorim said the road ahead for them is getting tougher before the end of the season, with Rangers travelling to Old Trafford for a Europa League match on Thursday before a trip to Fulham for their next Premier League match on Sunday.
United, who were last relegated from the top flight in 1974, have lost six of their first 12 league games at home – their worst record since 1893-94.
The last time United lost 10 of their first 22 games was under Alex Ferguson, who went on to become the club’s greatest manager with 13 English top-flight titles.
LONDON: Arne Slot said the best-performing team, Nottingham Forest “deserves” to be treated as Premier League (EPL) title contenders as he prepared Liverpool for their visit to the City Ground early Wednesday morning.
Third-placed Forest have handed Liverpool their only defeat this season and they can move three points behind the favourites if they win their seventh consecutive game this midweek.
Forest were just outside the relegation zone last season and their current position comes as a huge surprise.
However, Slot, when speaking at the pre-match press conference today, said Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad must be treated like serious contenders.
“I always say the best way to see the league standings is in the middle of the season, and that’s now, so if Forest are with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea, (Manchester) City and all the others, they will definitely be competing with us and the other teams,” said the Dutchman.
“And they deserve to be treated like this if you see the way they play, if you see the results achieved. So it will be very challenging to get a good result tomorrow.”
Forest, who have not conceded a goal in the Premier League since mid-December, beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in September.
Although Slot said it was due to their performance, the result was not a surprise at the time.
LIVERPOOL, England: Troubled English Premier League (EPL) club Everton sacked manager Sean Dyche early this morning, a few hours before the FA Cup third round match against Peterborough.
Speculation over Dyche’s future has intensified with reports suggesting Everton’s new owners, US-based Friedkin Group, have been talking about a potential successor since completing a £400 million takeover last month.
Everton said in a statement that Dyche “has been relieved of his duties as manager of the men’s senior first team with immediate effect” after two years in charge, as the process of appointing a new boss begins.
The Toffees are once again struggling to avoid relegation from the EPL after winning just once in their last 11 matches, with the sole victory coming against relegation candidates Wolves last December.
Everton Under-18 head coach Leighton Baines and captain Seamus Coleman took charge of the team on a temporary basis against third-tier Peterborough in the FA Cup as the Liverpool club search for a permanent replacement for Dyche.
Former Manchester United and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who now manages Turkish club Fenerbahce, has been linked with Everton recently.
Mourinho has experience working under the Friedkin Group at AS Roma, although the Italian club fired him less than a year ago.
David Moyes, who managed Everton between 2002 and 2013, former England manager Gareth Southgate, Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola have also been tipped as possible replacements for Dyche.
Everton have won just three of their 19 league games this season and are stranded in 16th place, with just one point separating them from the relegation zone.
Dyche has been in charge of Everton since January 2023 and has kept them in the top flight despite a number of issues, including a points deduction last season for breaching the EPL’s profit and sustainability rules.
Dyche, who is in the final year of his contract at Everton, is the sixth manager to lose his job in the Premier League this season.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo refuses to be lulled by his team’s success in joining the English Premier League title race after recording a sixth consecutive victory.
Forest defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 at Molineux Stadium early this morning, leaving them just nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who will visit them next week.
Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels performed brilliantly in the first half and the sharpness of his attacking line, who completed every accurate attempt, ensured the victory for the visitors.
“It was great. We worked hard to achieve what we have. Today was a tough game. Wolves had chances and Matz Sels was brilliant to make sure we didn’t fall behind.
“I’m very proud of the players’ effort and their determination to be up front and score goals.
“It’s a tough competition. We will always face strong opponents. We have to stay humble. We haven’t achieved anything yet, we have to keep working until the end and it could end in a beautiful moment,” said Nuno.
The Portuguese manager said he would remain grounded despite his team’s performance which saw them collect 40 points from 20 matches, equalling Leicester City at the same level in the 2015-16 season when they won the English Premier League.
Chris Wood scored his 12th league goal of the season, with Morgan Gibbs-White and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi also on target as Forest won.
It is the first time Forest have won six consecutive league games since 1979, when they were under Brian Clough.
MANCHESTER: Manchester United, managed by Ruben Amorim, lost for the ninth time in the English Premier League this season last Monday.
The 2-0 defeat to Newcastle was the fifth in eight league games under the Portuguese coach.
United are now just seven points above the relegation zone. Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League or other European competitions next season have now turned into a mission to avoid relegation to the Championship League.
The 39-year-old has now made his worst start at Old Trafford in 103 years.
United’s players were seen to have failed to adapt to the 3-4-3 formation implemented by the former Sporting manager.
United also collected their lowest points in a year since 1989 (51 points), and lost three consecutive home games for the first time since 1979.
Six defeats in December were United’s highest total in a month since September 1930 – and conceded 18 goals to equal the worst record set in March 1964.
“It’s also my fault. I don’t think this team has improved. The team has lost its direction at the moment.
“It’s a shame to be Manchester United manager and lose so many games. But we have to deal with this situation,” Amorim said after the defeat at Newcastle.
Not only that, United also recorded the worst statistics in the league this season in terms of goals, attempts completed, attempts on target, clean sheets, goals conceded and errors leading to goals conceded by the opposition.
If these statistics under Amorim had started at the start of the season, United would be 17th on seven points after eight games, only ahead of newly promoted Ipswich by goal difference.
LONDON: Enzo Maresca gave a warning to all Chelsea players to improve their performance after Noni Madueke was dismissed.
Madueke, and summer signing Renato Veiga, were dropped from the squad for the defeat at Fulham.
Maresca revealed both players were not injured but were not on the list due to technical decisions. The Blues manager has criticized Madueke’s training phase twice this season.
As the former Leicester manager prepares to re-list Madueke and Veiga for the clash against Ipswich on Monday, he warned the players to improve their performances.
“There are times when we just make decisions, nothing more than that. Is he available for the Ipswich game? Yes, of course.
“Competition needs to be fiercer but not only for Noni Madueka, also for Renato Veiga who is not in the squad for the same reason.
“There was no other reason, it was just a technical decision,” said Maresca.
Madueke featured in 16 of his previous 17 Premier League games, scoring five goals and providing three assists – but failed to find the target after the win over Southampton.
His place at Stamford Bridge looked bright after Mykhailo Mudryk was suspended for doping.