Erik ten Hag fears Antony suffered ‘serious’ injury in big win over Chelsea

Erik ten Hag fears winger Antony suffered a “serious” injury as Manchester United fulfilled the “main objective” of Champions League qualification by thrashing Chelsea.

The Red Devils sealed their return to European football’s top table with a game to spare by thrashing Frank Lampard’s wasteful Blues 4-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.

Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored before Joao Felix struck a late consolation on a night that saw Antony leave on a stretcher in the first half.

Asked for an update on the Brazil international, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know. Everyone has seen he came off.

“I can tell you that it’s serious but we have to wait minimum 24 hours and then we know probably more about the status of his injury.”

Ten Hag’s comments suggest Antony is in danger of missing the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3, with Luke Shaw also requiring assessment after being substituted with a reported back issue.

“We have to wait,” he said. “Antony looks serious but we don’t know what it is. With Shaw, we have to wait as well. After tomorrow we know more.”

Their absence would be big blows for a United side that are already without Lisandro Martinez, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek for the FA Cup final.

Beating City would be the cherry on top of what Ten Hag believes has already been a “successful season”.

“I have always high expectations of myself and I think this club belongs in the Champions League, so you have to qualify in the first four,” he said.

“But this league is very strong, and there are many teams, many clubs, who are competing for the position and they all can do it because they have high budgets, good squads.

“We see Chelsea, they have massive, good squad