Two moments from Antony suggest he has turned a corner at Manchester United

Some spectators in the Scoreboard End were still shielding from Alejandro Garnacho's shot but Antony immediately implored them to remain supportive.

Bruno Fernandes's ninth-minute penalty miss and Garnacho's rash rebound had the makings of a difficult night for Manchester United. Antony sensed otherwise. The supporters remained with the team and United only had to wait another 10 minutes for the breakthrough.

For Antony, this was an evening of catharsis. On his previous Premier League start at Fulham, his removal was cheered by some of those in the Putney End, decorated by that 'Play like you mean it!!' bedsheet. Had Antony been substituted against Chelsea, he would have earned a standing ovation.

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The Antony of the last nine days is a footballer closer to the exorbitant £86.3million United committed to investing in 15 months ago. A collaborative cog in the first and third goals against Galatasaray, it was Antony whose foot Enzo Fernandez overzealously trod on at Old Trafford to give Fernandes his one-shot.

Antony's canny reverse pass for Scott McTominay invited him to claim a hat-trick 20 seconds after Chelsea had kicked off again. McTominay was crestfallen and immediately hauled back to his feet by an encouraging Antony.

Erik ten Hag beckoned Antony over for a conflab midway through the first half, his arm resting avuncularly on the Brazilian's shoulder. Though the United dressing room is pockmarked by dissenters, Antony is not one of them.

"Antony’s performance level over the last week seems to have really improved," this correspondent said at Ten Hag's post-match press conference. "What’s