Jamie Carragher defends Antony and digs out Man Utd team-mate as Red Devils crash out of Europa League
Posted by  badge Boss on Apr 21, 2023 - 08:29AM
Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher (Picture: Sky Sports)

Jamie Carragher defended and singled out another star for criticism as the Red Devils crashed out of the .

United’s Europa League run was .

Marcel Sabitzer’s first-half brace in the first leg at Old Trafford put Manchester United in control of the tie but Sevilla fought back courtesy of two own goals.

Sevilla’s momentum continued in the return leg and Youssef En-Nesyri scored early following a mistake from England defender .

The hosts could have doubled their lead before half-time but did make their dominance count immediately after the break through Loic Bade’s looping header.

David de Gea could have done better for both goals and his dismal evening got even worse when he gifted En-Nesyri a second goal with ten minutes remaining.

None of United’s squad enhanced their reputation against Sevilla but Jadon Sancho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were hauled off at half-time following poor displays.

Jadon Sancho struggled against as Sevilla beat Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Sancho has flattered to deceive following his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 and Carragher believes Antony has already done more than the England forward at Old Trafford.

Brazilian winger Antony has been the subject of much criticism this season but Carragher says he has outperformed Sancho who escapes with less scrutiny.

‘Antony has done more in six months than Sancho has in two years,’ the former Liverpool and England defender tweeted. ‘Yet Antony gets plenty of criticism and Sancho gets very little.’

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag slammed his team’s performance as they were dumped out of the Europa League.

United, who won the League Cup earlier this season, return to action on Sunday with a FA Cup semi-final against in-form Brighton.

‘We have to do better, that’s the demand,’ Ten Hag said. ‘We were not composed, not calm.

‘We didn’t beat the press, when you do there are so many spaces behind, and it was obvious at the start how to do it. We lost the battles, they had more passion, more desire, more willingness, that’s difficult to win games.

‘We can’t run away from it. On Sunday we have another opportunity and have to step up and show more character and personality.

‘It’s not about them [the players they were missing], it’s about the players on the pitch. They have to perform, I believe in them and trust them but they have to show it and they were not good enough.

‘We have shown on so many occasions good things but tonight we weren’t ready for the game. At this level, playing for Manchester United, you have to be ready for every game.

‘This was a great opportunity, a great occasion, to win something and we gave it away – we have to blame ourselves. It’s gone, we can’t change it. We have to look forward to Sunday, that’s the next opportunity.’

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