- Blues head to Poland aiming to grab first trophy under Maresca
- Betis managed by former Man City boss Manuel Pelligrini
Betis manager Pellegrini: Antony seeking redemption after Premier League struggles
Real Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini said Manchester United loanee Antony is “out for revenge” after his struggles at Old Trafford led to his move to Seville.
Wednesday’s Conference League final against Chelsea in Wroclaw could mark the final appearance for the 25-year-old winger at the club he joined on a six-month loan in January. The move signaled the end of a difficult Premier League stint, where he failed to meet the high expectations that came with his £87 million transfer.
Speaking to Brazilian media this week, Antony revealed the depths of his struggles at Manchester United, admitting there were times he could go days without eating as he grappled with the pressure to replicate the form he showed at Ajax, the club he left in 2022.
With nine goals in 25 appearances for Betis including a goal in each leg of the 4-3 aggregate semi-final victory over Fiorentina that secured their place in Wednesday’s final in Poland Antony has rediscovered his form. Betis finished sixth in LA Liga and are reportedly eager to sign him on a permanent deal.
However, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are also said to be interested, potentially sparking a transfer battle. Manchester United, meanwhile, are expected to recoup only a fraction of the £87 million they originally paid for the winger.
I spoke with him before he joined Betis, said Pellegrini, who has guided the club to their first-ever European final. He told me he wasn’t playing because he wasn’t happy.
But he’s been very critical of his own performances he wants to make things right. He’s out for revenge, and I think he’s shown exactly what he’s capable of.
It’s not easy when a player comes with a €100 million price tag. But Antony is a top-quality player, and I’m convinced this is a crucial moment for him to keep developing and moving forward in his career.
Maresca stands firm after outburst at critics
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca stood by his weekend “outburst,” in which he told his critics to “f*** off” following his team’s securing of Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Blues clinched a return to the Champions League on Sunday by edging Nottingham Forest 1-0.
In his post-match press conference, Maresca took the opportunity to hit back at his critics, stating that despite ongoing scrutiny, he never doubted his team would secure Champions League football.
Levi Colwill, who scored the winning goal at the City Ground, also voiced his frustration, saying: People have been talking a lot of s*** about us all season.
When asked about his and his player’s reactions following Champions League qualification, Maresca said it was a natural response to what they felt were unfair assessments of the team throughout the season.
I think it’s a positive reaction from the players, Maresca said ahead of Wednesday Europa Conference League final against Real Betis.
Levi reaction, and mine, were just emotional outbursts in the moment, Maresca said. The reason is that during our difficult spells back in February and March, when we dropped points there was a lot of criticism that didn’t reflect our perspective. From our point of view, people weren’t speaking fairly.
Of course, those critics would say they were being fair from their side, but for us, it didn’t feel that way. Yes, we’re the youngest squad in Premier League history, but these players are still men.
I also used that criticism as motivation. I told the players, Today is a chance to show we’re not just young we’re mature, we can compete, and we’re capable of doing things the right way.
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Thanks for the update
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