'I needed that goal' - Man Utd winger Antony admits he's been 'training his right foot' amid fierce criticism and vows to 'repay' £85m fee after scoring in thrilling FA Cup win over Liverpool

The Brazilian found the back of the net for the first time at Old Trafford this season as Manchester United edged out rivals Liverpool in a seven-goal thriller in the FA Cup on Sunday. Antony was on cloud nine after contributing to his team's win as he admitted he needed the goal to boost his confidence.

Speaking to reporters, the winger said: "It was a very important goal, it gave us the chance to go to extra time and try to win. Personally, it was a very important moment for me, I needed that goal. At no point did I stop thinking about it and working.

"It's games like this that show our values and I believe this will motivate everyone for the season. It was a great game. Our team fought until the last minute. We showed the strength that United has in front of our fans. We have the possibility of winning another title for the club and we will fight for it."

The 24-year-old, who joined the Red Devils from Ajax in 2022 for £85m (€99m), has failed to justify his price tag across his first two seasons in Manchester. Amid widespread criticism, the Brazil international vowed to repay the transfer fee with his performances on the pitch, as he claimed to have been silently working on his game behind the scenes.

Antony added: "It has been a period of a lot of learning. I try to learn from each criticism and understand where I can improve. I have been working silently to evolve and show my football on the field. I have also been training my right foot, to make it better. I know my potential and I know why Manchester hired me. I want to repay all of this on the field."

The former Ajax star will be next seen in action for Erik ten Hag's side after the international break when they take on Brentford in the Premier League on March 30.