Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag says it’s “unlikely” that Antony will be fit for theFA Cupfinal after picking up an ankle ιɴjυɾу last week.
The Brazil international was carried off on a stretcher last Thursday intheir 4-1 victory over Chelsea in the Premier Leaguewith Ten Hag upbeat on his recovery on Sunday.
When asked whether Antony will be fit to play against Man City in theFA Cupfinal on Saturday, Ten Hag told a press conference: “Unlikely, still a chance but it’s a really small chance. He didn’t make progress. So he still has a chance but unlikely he is available.”
Ten Hag: Final not about beating City,…
On the impact of Anthony Martial missing theFA Cupfinal thɾօυɢҺ ιɴjυɾу, the Man Utd boss added:”These questions so many times from you about the absence of players and every time I say the same thing, it is about the players who are available and many times we were successful. We have a good squad and from the good squad we make a good team.”
The Dutchman has already guided Man Utd to a top-four finish in the Premier Leagueand a Carabao Cup trophythis season and he’s desperate for more silverware.
When asked if defeat to Man City would ruin his summer, Ten Hag replied: “No, it will not be the case. Always after a couple of days it will settle down and you move into the summer.
“We had a good season, but, of course we have a great opportunity to make it a very good season.”
On whether the final will give any indication of the gap between the two sides, Ten Hag continued: “Of course, it is a test, but you can’t set the conclusions on the basis of one game, you need more, already I make the conclusions but nevertheless it is a good test on Saturday.
“We want to win a cup, it is not about stopping them, it is about winning the cup. We have a great opportunity.”
On when Man Utd will be in a position to challenge City for the Premier League title, Ten Hag said: “I think they do very good job, they play very good football so they deserve it.
“Of course, I look at our opponents but we look to ourselves and you have to see where you are as a club and from there you have to make progress and I think we did over the last season, we made very good progress, we are in a good direction and we have our opportunity in the summer to make new targets, new goals over the short term.
“In the longer term they will stay the same. I said last year, we want to restore United but we have a way to go.”
Finally, a word on whether theFA Cupfinal will be Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst’s final game for the club: “I don’t know. You can’t say that at the moment. I am not at the moment into transfer politics. At the moment I am in this game and we will do everything. Wout made a very good contribution to the team result from where we took him.”
