Erik ten Hag has revealed that Antony took Manchester United’s penalty against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup because Marcus Rashford gave him the ball as a gesture of the team’s togetherness.

With Bruno Fernandes beginning on the bench during the eventual 7-0 win, Rashford would have been expected to step up from 12 yards when Antony himself was brought down by Barnsley goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina just over half an hour into the third round tie.

But it was the Brazilian winger, who was starting his first game of the season, that put the ball on the spot and smashed it into the net after a stutter trying to wrong-foot Slonina. Rashford had already scored by that stage of the game, while United as a team went on to score five more – including another for Rashford and two each for Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen.

Antony getting off the mark for the season, having scored only three times across all competitions in 2023/24, now means all four of United’s wingers have found the net in the first month of 2024/25.

But while there is individual ambition, Ten Hag praised the collective attitude of the group and the willingness to help each other out, as with the penalty.

“I think they are very ambitious, they are very hungry but what you also see is they give each other the ball,” the United boss told reporters after the final whistle.

“They also give assists and they give each other the opportunity to score a goal like the pen when Antony needs some confidence. Then Rashy gives the pen to Antony, which is good in a team, which they are, they are together.”

Joshua Zirkzee is still feeling his way into this United team, while the dynamic of the forwards will change again in the coming weeks when Rasmus Hojlund makes his expected return from injury.

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