Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole blame ANTONY for Brighton’s late winner against Man United as the pundits slam £86m man for ‘puff tackle’ that led to Seagulls victory

A tale as old as time was the story that unfolded as Brighton beat Manchester United 2-1 in the Premier League‘s Saturday 12:30pm kick-off.

It may be a new season but it looks like the same Red Devils from the past seasons have reappeared.

Heading into the game, many could have predicted how the game would unfold with United playing eye-catching football in small patches but overall looking unconvincing away from home, missing a key chance before conceding a goal deep into added time. 

Speaking after the game former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand and Premier League player Joe Cole were highly critical of one Manchester United substitute who they say cost Erik ten Hags men the win.

The two men speaking on TNT Sports after the match blamed Antony stating that the Brazilian forward ‘has to be better. He has to deal with that’.

TNT Sports pundits Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole hit out at the Brazilian stating he had to do better

Speaking on the build-up to the goal which saw Joao Pedro left unmarked by Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt to nod home the winner, Joe Cole blamed Antony for not clearing the first ball.

‘When there’s been five substitutions, man, you’ve got to deal with it. You need to be leaders taking the first one. 

‘They don’t deal with the first bit here comes out Antony. He has to be better. He has to deal with that. And in the secondary situations, a lovely ball in. 

‘But there’s no one there with a body shape in the right position, and it’s three of them queuing up at the far post. From Manchester United’s perspective, you’d be furious here.

With Rio Ferdinand adding ‘He has to smash him there, he has to go through that and take everything. Antony there. 

‘It’s a part of puff tackle which allowed to get this moment. But this is the second phase. Joe’s talking about, we you work on this a lot. 

‘You work on the first phase. The first corner, it goes out, recycles. then its about reposition. Get ourselves in order. Man united. Do not do that.’

Joao Pedro scored in the 95th minute of added time to seal the win for the Seagulls

The two continued their analysis of the game with Cole going on further to slate the Manchester United players for not adapting to the game and their roles once Erik Ten Hag made his subs. 

‘But sometimes at a football game, especially nowadays, when there’s five subs being made, you have to deal with it yourself, as players on the pitch, because, you know, your job at the start of the game might have been on the post, then it might have been in the space, then you might have to mark, you know, but then that is All hands to the pump, and you have to deal with it. 

‘And you have eight Man United players looking at ….. as he’s about to whip the ball in, and it’s free Brighton players that is, that is criminal, that cannot happen, and now that’s cost them today.

The two former Premier League players heavily criticised the United team following their subs

Ferdinand agreed with Cole’s harsh criticism, saying ‘yeah I think the second one, obviously is much more glaring. 

‘I think the first one you could do better. I think it’s a very good ball first and foremost, that puts you in a problem as a defender. 

‘I think Maguire could deal with the first ball in but again, this game’s been won, three crosses in the box, three goals. 

‘And I always think about this. Now, if I’m a manager, all I’m telling my players to do is get in those areas and cross that ball. 

‘Because I don’t think we’re seeing defenders defend those positions as well as we would have maybe in the past.

‘I don’t think vulnerabilities, I think I think man united. I think today, on the whole, I think that their performance was a lot more positive than I seen, maybe at many times last season. I think there was a cohesiveness with and without the ball. 

‘And I just think that again, one moment could have changed this game, Zirkzee’s, moment when it hits him on the line, and could just disallowed him rightly so. I mean, that’s if that goes in the game’s very different. But this way, this isn’t an ifs buts and maybes game is it?