Share
7th May 2024
02:55pm BST
Paul Scholes believes he knows what Antony said to Mason Mount and Andre Onana as they walked off the pitch together at full time.
All three were part of the Manchester United side humiliated by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta gave the Eagles deserved 2-0 lead in the first half before Tyrick Mitchell and a second half wonder striker from Olise made sure it was a memorable night for Palace.
It was another terrible performance for the Red Devils who are now in real danger of not qualifying for Europe at all.
At full time the cameras picked up on the discussion between Antony, Mount and Onana in which the Brazilian could been talking to the pair with his hand covered over his mouth in a bid to avoid the cameras picking up on what he was saying.
Mount walked alongside, paining a frustrated figure, while Onana also covered his mouth to talk.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher lambasted the trio on air, saying: "Just get off the pitch. Talking, whispering behind your hand - you've just been absolutely awful. They are probably talking about one of the players - somebody else, the set-up or the manager. Just shut up and get in.
"You've been beaten 4-0. Whispering, talking about other players. Honestly, embarrassing."
Scholes was on punditry duty for Optus Sports and he noticed that Antony held three fingers up, leaving him to guess that it may have played a part in the conversation.
"He has three fingers up there, I don't know what that means. He is saying something to Mason Mount he is obviously not happy with. Mason Mount seems the quietest out of the three of them," he said.
"What's that going to do, I didn't see any of them communicating on the football pitch. That doesn't look good. I don't think that's good for the manager.
"People are obviously talking and saying things he [Antony] doesn't agree with. When he's putting those three fingers up, maybe he's saying we should be having three in midfield, why don't we have three there?
"I don't know, we have no idea because we can't lip read. But there is obviously a problem there and they obviously disagree with something the manager is doing."
United's slim hopes of qualifying for Europe face an even bigger obstacle this weekend when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a must-win game for both given that Arsenal could still win the Premier League title.
Related links:
Explore more on these topics:
