Ruben Amorim explains why Man Utd flop Antony is thriving on loan at Real Betis as coach laments the absence of 'strong core' at Old Trafford

The Brazilian has scored two goals and earned two player of the match awards in just three games at Real Betis after escaping his horrendous spell at United on loan. He was on target in Betis' 3-0 win at Gent in the Conference League on Thursday. The winger had only scored one goal this season for the Red Devils - a penalty against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup - and only struck a meagre 12 times in 96 appearances following his £86 million ($108m) move from Ajax in 2022, making him one of the worst signings in the club's history.

Antony is far from alone in having a new lease of life since leaving Old Trafford. Scott McTominay has scored six goals and set up a further two for Serie A leaders Napoli this season. Anthony Elanga is also lighting up Nottingham Forest's incredible campaign after failing to make a lasting impact at United following an exciting breakthrough campaign under Ralf Rangnick.

Amorim told a press conference: "I don't know, sometimes it's like that, it can happen with any club. This club has a lot of pressure and you have to have a base of a team to put younger and talented players that came from abroad to help them. If you are playing better as a team, and you have a strong core, like it's supposed to be at this club, it will be more easy for these kind of players to play football."

United are having a terrible season on and off the pitch. The Red Devils are currently 13th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's trip to Tottenham, on course for their lowest league finish since 1990. And the club is increasingly unstable financially, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe planning another 200 job losses. Amorim said he was trying to just focus on the next game but admitted the Red Devils had deep-seated issues. He said: "Our biggest problem now is Tottenham, we know the moment of the club, I have to understand these problems, but these problems in our club are not new. We have a problem at the moment, but that cannot influence how I coach the team and prepare for the next game."

United were thrashed 3-0 at home by Tottenham under Erik ten Hag back in September while Amorim's side lost 4-3 to Spurs in the Carabao Cup. Tottenham are in even worse form than the Red Devils going into the game, although Amorim said he had huge admiration for Spurs' boss Ange Postecoglou despite huge recent criticism towards the Australian for his dogmatic tactical approach.

Amorim said: "He wants to play football in the right way and that's a good thing. We know when we choose this profession there are a lot of good things, but you have to feel the pressure when you don't win. I am a huge fan of Ange Postecoglou. He is a good guy, a very good coach. I understand the connection with me and Ange. We have the same problem. In my opinion, and with respect, I am at a bigger club, with bigger pressure, and I think coaches must follow their principles."