Neville tells Man Utd man to be more like Man City star after Nottingham Forest victory

Joe Williams
Man Utd legend Gary Neville looks stunned

Former Man Utd defender Gary Neville thinks Antony needs to “develop” his game so that he can become more like Man City star Riyad Mahrez.

The Red Devils secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday night with goals coming from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes.

Antony has been criticised for some of his performances since moving to Old Trafford but he delivered an improved display before being substituted off for Facundo Pellistri on 71 minutes.

But Neville still thinks he can do a lot more with the Man Utd legend urging the Brazilian to learn to “go both ways” like Mahrez at City.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about Antony in the last few days,” Neville said during his commentary duties for Sky Sports.

“He needs to develop that Mahrez side of things to be able to go both ways.

“At the moment he’s still a little bit predictable in trying to always force it onto his left foot.”

Former Man Utd midfielder Roy Keane also expressed his thoughts on Antony before kick-off, he said: “Another thing he’s [Antony] got to learn from playing for a big club like Manchester United is off the ball working a bit harder.

“He needs to help his team-mates a little bit more, but that will come to him.”

Keane thought it was a “very comfortable” win for Man Utd with Nottingham Forest defending “badly” for their opening two goals.

“Forest have defended so badly, particularly for the two goals. To concede on half-time was a hammer blow,” Keane said on Sky Sports.

“Man United haven’t had to work too hard for either goal, Forest have been too open. Talk about schoolboy defending after the first five or six minutes.

“It was very comfortable for United. They’ll be delighted with that. A clean sheet and three goals.

“Forest lacked quality. They were too open and gave away the goals as such bad times. Man United fans can start getting ready for Wembley.”

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper was a bit deflated by the final scoreline after the final whistle and admitted the return leg at Old Trafford will now be “incredibly tough”.

“It’s a really disappointing scoreline. With the two-legged affair the last thing you want to do is go to Old Trafford for the second leg with the result we got tonight,” Cooper said.

“That is the most disappointing thing. The manner of the goals, from the timing of them to how they have come about.

“Rashford is one of the most in-form players in the country so to allow him to do what he did was disappointing.

“To go to Old Trafford with 2-0, you never know, it would be tough but you never know, so to concede late on and not accept what we had tonight is disappointing.

“I think it is going to be incredibly tough next week. We have to be very professional and set some objectives to give ourselves an opportunity and also to make sure we go into the game and come out of it in a better place than we went into it.”

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