The Premier League side narrowly avoided an embarrassing exit after surrendering a 3-0 lead in regular time, only to clinch the win in extra time, with Coventry having a late goal disallowed by VAR.

Following the penalty shootout, Antony was seen gesturing towards the Coventry players, sparking criticism from both fans and pundits for his behavior, which many deemed inappropriate given the circumstances of the match.

However, the Brazilian has now taken to social media to provide context for his actions.

Following the backlash, Antony has explained that his gesture towards Coventry City players was in response to alleged mistreatment of Manchester United fans by one of the Coventry players.

Although the specifics of the incident remain unclear, Antony feels he was justified in defending his club. Posting on his X page, he stated,”Coventry proved why they reached the semi-final. We sought this spot in the final for our fans and we achieved it.

The way our fans were treated by their player was not nice, and I reacted in the heat of the moment to defend my club.” Despite his explanation, many still found Antony’s actions embarrassing, and criticism ensued.

While penalty shootouts are emotionally charged, displaying sportsmanship towards the opposing team after the deciding kick is considered a sign of class, something Antony failed to demonstrate.