Troy Deeney tells Man Utd to 'cut ties' with winger after dismal showing in Spurs loss

Manchester United have been told to ditch Antony after a dismal display against Tottenham by pundit Troy Deeney.

The former striker said that it was a "frustrating" performance by Antony during the dramatic 4-3 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

The Brazilian winger started the match but failed to impress, with Deeney offering a scathing assessment of his contribution.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Deeney pulled no punches: "As soon as Manchester United took Antony off, everybody else started running.

"They've got to cut ties with him. I don't want to make him the scapegoat but, honestly, watching him is so frustrating.

"This is your big moment. He doesn't run, he doesn't sprint… just get him out."

Deeney went even further, suggesting United should offload Antony at any cost in the January transfer window, drawing comparisons to the situation surrounding Marcus Rashford.

"If you're getting rid of Marcus Rashford, whoever is taking him, we'll pay you to take him [Antony] as well. Get him out the club," he said.

"Tottenham were so in control. Sixty minutes, 3-0, and Manchester United had nothing.

"They had to bring on three subs, and they probably didn't even want to bring those guys on, let's be totally honest, and Tottenham were in a situation where they were inviting pressure."

Deeney also criticized Tottenham’s defensive strategy, highlighting their inability to handle possession effectively under pressure.

"Going to your goalkeeper should be going to your goalkeeper to come out the other side of play, so if you can pass it to him on the right-hand side, he takes a touch with his right foot, plays it out with his left foot, and you just keep making that team run," he explained.

"They didn't do that… they took five, six, seven touches, tried to score, they were trying to play with a high line and just inviting pressure.

"Tottenham's defenders were running forward. You learn that at four or five years old: no pressure on the ball, stop, back off, give them space. They do everything backwards."

Reflecting on the nervy finish, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou admitted his side contributed to their own problems but praised the effort of his players given the challenges they faced.

"We self-inflicted some pain on ourselves, but we ended up getting a fourth and winning the game," Postecoglou said.

"I still can't get away from the fact this group of players is doing an unbelievable job. We had 10 players unavailable for one reason and another. We can't rotate like other clubs. The current situation is incredible."

Postecoglou also addressed criticism of his tactical approach, dismissing potential backlash from pundits. "I know the television studio is probably having a meltdown over my lack of tactics," he said with a wry smile.

The match left plenty of talking points, with Antony’s lackluster display under the spotlight and Tottenham’s defensive shortcomings nearly costing them a place in the semi-finals.

For both teams, the focus now shifts to how they respond to the lessons learned in a chaotic and high-stakes encounter.

Former Ajax winger Antony has struggled to replicate his initial form following his £86 million move in September 2022, scoring only once this season in the Carabao Cup.

Antony has failed to score in the Premier League since April 2023.

Despite the underwhelming performances, Ruben Amorim, who has seen Antony's potential at his peak during their Champions League encounters, is still hopeful.

He is convinced that with the right efforts, he can restore Antony's confidence and bring back his old form.

"He is working really hard and trying and playing more inside than outside, especially in this game. He just has to do that. To work really hard and I will help him to be a better player," said the manager.