Anthony has been having a great time with Real Betis in Spain lately and his good performances keep hitting the news. His performance on the field not only helped the team to win, but also won the recognition of the fans and coaches.
On April 13, Real Betis hosted Villarreal and lost 1-2, a loss that halted their winning streak. However, they quickly adjusted their form. In the 32nd round of La Liga, they challenged Girona on the road and won 3-1. In this match, Betis didn’t have much possession, but they did a great job in defense and counterattack, especially taking the lead in the first half.
Among them, Anthony from Brazil was very outstanding and became the player that the media focused on. His speed and good footwork played a big role in the game.
In this game, Betis’ manager Pellegrini arranged Anthony to appear in the right wing position. He formed an attacking trio with captain Isco, and teammate Ezalzulli. The three of them worked well together in the game and created many attacking opportunities for the team. Anthony was particularly good at breaking down the right side of the field, and he repeatedly used his speed to break through Girona’s left back Miguel Gutierrez. He also often played short passes with Isco and Ezalzulli, making it difficult for the opposing back four to defend.
In addition to his offensive contributions, Anthony wasn’t lazy when it came to the team’s defense. When the team’s formation changed, he would take the initiative to go back to the backfield to assist in the defense, especially helping his teammate Ruybal to deal with Girona’s winger Danjuma. Because of Anthony’s involvement, the opponent’s left side of the attack was almost suppressed.
The best moment of the match came in the 39th minute. Betis left back Pero crossed the ball from the side, Anthony received the ball in the box and shot with his right foot, making the score 2-0. Girona’s goalkeeper Gazzaniga pounced but was too late to react effectively. Betis fans were very excited in the stands and cheered enthusiastically for this wonderful goal.
In addition to this goal, Antoni had several other chances on goal during the game and with better luck he could have scored more. Before he was substituted in the 78th minute, he touched the ball 52 times and made 33 out of 38 passes for a pass success rate of 87%. He also delivered two key passes, three long passes that were accurately placed, two successful breakaways with the ball, as well as one steal and six recoveries of possession.
Currently, Real Betis is six points away from the top four in La Liga, but the addition of Anthony has significantly boosted the team’s offense. Since his loan move from England’s Manchester United, he has scored five goals and dished out four assists in 17 games. He has become an integral part of manager Manuel Pellegrini’s tactical setup.
Former Brazilian star Denilson, who played for Betis between 1998 and 2005, has also gone on record to say that Anthony has gained trust and attention at the Spanish side, something he struggled to get at Manchester United. De Nielsen said that this trust has allowed Anthony to play with more confidence and to play to his strengths more easily.
Anthony is also winning the hearts of Betis fans. Fans are cheering him on from the stands, and many have posted pictures of him on social media wearing green and white jerseys, calling him “the future of the team”. Many fans even called on the club to negotiate with Manchester United to buy the Brazilian star outright.
While Anthony is having a good time at Betis, his parent team Manchester United is in a slump in the English league. In the latest round of Premier League matches, United lost to Wolves and continue to be in the doldrums. Anthony, on the other hand, is finding his form in Spain and feeling the joy of soccer again.
This also shows a truth: the development of a player is largely related to the team environment. When a player is trusted and valued in a new environment, he will naturally play better. Anthony is the best example of this, as he has rediscovered his passion and his best form at Betis.