The midfielder wants his compatriot to continue expressing himself (Pictures: BT Sport)
Manchester United midfielder Fred has jumped to the defence of team-mate Antony after he came under fire for showboating in Thursday’s Europa League win over FC Sheriff.
The former Ajax winger did his trademark drag-back spin – twice – while the scores were still tied at 0-0 before giving the ball away, which prompted a backlash from United legend Paul Scholes and fellow pundit Robbie Savage.
‘I don’t know what he’s doing. It’s just ridiculous. It’s showboating,’ said Scholes on BT Sport.
‘Look at [Erik ten Hag’s reaction], that sums it up. What is he thinking? He’s not beating a man, he’s not entertaining anybody, it’s 0-0 and then he kicks the ball out.’
Savage even suggested manager Ten Hag should have ‘dragged’ Antony off, while after the match – which United easily won 3-0 – Scholes even dubbed the former Ajax winger a ‘clown’.
Ten Hag defended his winger afterwards, saying he had no issue with Antony’s tricks, and now Fred has also hit back at the criticism and feels it is part of being Brazilian to try and entertain.
Asked how he felt about the criticism Antony received from pundits like Scholes and Savage, Fred told ESPN: ‘It’s very annoying that they want to say that.
‘I think it starts with us being Brazilians. Brazilians have quality in their blood. It’s always been that way since Pele, to have quality, to dribble, to score, to dance, to smile.
‘So I think people have to understand this aspect that we have. So it wasn’t offensive to anyone what he did.
‘Of course, if it’s offensive, we’ll come to him in the dressing room and talk. But it was not offensive to anyone. It’s his game. I think he has to keep doing it.’
Antony himself took a similar stance on social media, posting on Instagram: ‘We are known for our art and I will not stop doing what has brought me to where I am!’
Quizzed on how he felt about Antony’s showboating, Ten Hag said after the game: ‘I don’t have a problem with that as long as it’s functional.
‘So from him I demand more: more runs in behind, more often in the box, more tempo dribbles especially and more playing in the pocket.
‘So we demand more dominance in this game and when, now and then, there is a trick like that it is nice as long as it’s functional, you’re not losing the ball and it’s attracting players, then it’s okay. But if it’s a trick for the sake of a trick, then I will correct him.’
MORE : Antony responds to criticism over his showboating in Manchester United’s Europa League game
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The midfielder wants his compatriot to continue expressing himself.