Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag demands Antony to 'step up' after bringing the £88million recruit on in the 99th minute in 2-1 defeat to Fulham

Erik ten Hag has called upon Antony to 'step up' following his decision to keep the £88 million signing on the bench until the 99th minute of Saturday's disheartening home loss against Fulham.

Despite Manchester United's recent surge in Champions League qualifying contention with four consecutive victories, Alex Iwobi's injury-time goal dealt them a harsh reality check.

Even with Rasmus Hojlund sidelined due to injury, Ten Hag opted not to include his most expensive acquisition in the starting lineup, giving 19-year-old Omari Forson his first full Premier League debut instead.

Forson's performance, although mostly lackluster, ended after 52 minutes, yet Ten Hag refrained from introducing Antony into the game until Iwobi's decisive goal.

Ten Hag insisted that the Brazilian winger was fit and that it was to do with the options in his squad. 

Erik Ten Hag gave a first Premier League start to Omari Forson, 19, over Antony

‘It was nothing to do with fitness. He is fit but we have many options on the right side where we lack in other positions due to injuries. 

‘The form in Antony we all have seen and he has to step up. I see it in training but also other Omari and Amad Diallo and Garnacho deserve to play.' Ten Hag added. 

Harry Maguire equalised for the hosts as they fought for a late winner, but it was Alex Iwobi who found the back of the net and the eventual three points for the Cottagers. 

Things were looking up for the Red Devils with the side in red-hot form, though the signs of recovery were trampled underfoot by an effervescent Fulham.

Erik ten Hag’s side were on a run of six wins and a draw from seven games in 2024, but it was brought to a halt by Fulham’s first win in the Premier League here in 17 attempts, dating back to 2003. 

This was also the Londoners’ first away win in the league since the opening day of the season after Alex Iwobi fired a dramatic winner in the seventh minute of injury-time.

The boss continued: ‘We struggled with their influence and their impact on our left side. 

'But we reacted well and how to deal with it, how to step up from the back and once we had that we got more from the game and took control to create the chances.

‘With the squad we had today we should have won this game. Both halves were slow starts and we should be ready from the first whistle. 

‘That’s a point of criticism but the team showed big character in both halves.’