Manchester United We’ve seen Antony explain his move to Real Betis more than once – and he’s not really changing the script.

The Brazilian is still performing strongly in Spain, with 13 goals and nine assists in 41 appearances this season. That output has helped him restore confidence after a difficult spell at Old Trafford, where things never went consistently well.

Recently he revealed about going to Real Betis “One of the best decisions of his life”. Now, in another interview globo esporteAntony has gone back to the same topics again. This time, he added a little more detail about what went wrong during his Manchester United tenure.

Antony again points to off-pitch issues

Antony emphasizes his struggles in England weren’t about football ability.

“The off-pitch part affects a lot. I had some problems outside football that affected me. It was a complicated moment, but it brought learning and maturity.” He said.

“It was in those difficult moments that I stopped, reflected and began to value the simple things. It was a difficult period behind the scenes, which very few people know about, but it made me realize that I needed to find myself and be good for things to flow.”

He made it clear that he has no regrets about joining Manchester United.

“I don’t forget playing football. I don’t regret going to Manchester. I’m grateful to the club. I learned a lot there.” Antony added.

Betis is still the turning point

Antony once again described His move to Real Betis As an important moment.

“It was very important for me. This is where I found myself. This is where I found myself and could become very happy in a short period of time.” he explained.

“Even before I arrived on loan, I was already mentally preparing, because I knew I had a short time and I could make a difference.”

He also spoke about how quickly things changed after leaving Manchester United.

“I was called again [by the national team] Immediately after arriving at Betis, which was very important for me. It was emotional because of the change. I was playing very little in England, not feeling good or happy and then I came here and helped the team, became one of the great players.

“Today I feel much more prepared, more mature. I’m living my best moments on and off the field with my family.”

Cristiano Ronaldo story adds fresh details

Antony at least offered something new as he shared more details about his time with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.

“Cristiano is a great person. You learn a lot from him.” He said. “He once joked to me that people think he’s arrogant, but in daily life he’s very playful.”

“We used to sit at the table and he would talk about life, books and many other topics besides football. It was good because it helped us to differentiate. He would say: ‘Today we will not talk about football.’

There were light moments behind the scenes too.

“Once in the sauna he joked with me, showed me his body and asked if he looked 23 years old. I was embarrassed too, because you see the level of care he takes even at the age of almost 40. He is a reference for everyone.”

The magic of Man United still sets the tone

Antony keeps telling the same story, just with slightly different details each time. He clearly does not view Manchester United with despair, but it does not seem so either someone who remembers it. Meanwhile, United have also moved on.

Nevertheless, his form at Betis underlines that he is a player there. A reminder that context and environment can shape outcomes just as much as ability.

of manchester united The decision to move Antony makes sense when you juxtapose it with what he is doing at Real Betis.

Brazil has quietly produced its most productive performance in years. In all competitions, he has 13 goals and nine assists in 40 games. In La Liga, this is limited to seven goals and five assists in 26 appearances.

The underlying numbers also support this. Antony averages 0.54 goal involvements per 90 minutes. He takes 3.08 shots per game and scores once every 9.71 attempts.

Furthermore, he makes 2.04 key passes per match and completes 81.61% of his 43 passes per game.

It’s a very different level of involvement compared to what we saw at Old Trafford. In Spain, his role is clearer and he is much more involved in the final third. real daughters His career and his mentality changed.

It all comes at a crucial moment. The announcement of Brazil’s World Cup squad is approaching and Antony is trying to get back into the picture.

Betis’ decision is shaping international expectations

Antony has now come out openly espn brazil Regarding both his club situation and his Brazilian ambitions. His current situation at Betis clearly plays a big role in that push.

“Staying at Betis was one of the best decisions of my life,” Antony added. “I am very happy. my family was overweight In the decision. It is important to see them happy.”

“When the family is okay it makes things lighter on the field.”He concluded.

He was part of the squad for the last World Cup under Tite, but has not been able to perform much under Carlo Ancelotti so far. Still, he’s not giving up on building the next one.

“My biggest dream is to play in the World Cup, but I have to do my part, my job, the national team is the result.” He said.

“I really want to come back, play my second World Cup. It’s my aim to always wear the national team shirt.”

life without antony

Antony seems to be someone who has settled in Spain and not a player looking back at Manchester United.

But he thinks the chances go both ways. United have moved on without him and given the way things have turned out, they hardly miss him. The team changed and Antony’s role was never fully fleshed out during his stay in England.

“His current stats highlight that there is still a player out there,” he said. At Betis, he looks more confident, more engaged and more decisive.

This is a case of a player who needed a different setting to bring out his best level. This time is ideal for Antony. He has given himself a real chance to get back into the Brazilian conversation when it matters most.

swansea city Having already secured their survival in the Championship, the club’s internal rebuild now takes center stage.

We previously covered parts of Vitor Matos’ interview regarding the striker zhan vipotnik status. Anyway, full conversation with Portuguese newspaper to ball Provides great insight into Swansea’s structure, identity and long-term planning.

Below, the main themes of that interview are organized and expanded upon, with Matos’s full comments preserved and grouped for clarity.

Arrival and immediate priorities

Vitor Matos moved closer to the relegation zone with Swansea. The initial focus was on survival, but also laying the foundation for something more stable.

“Above all, it was a challenge because of the moment the change happened. It was about the moment that mattered for Marítimo and Swansea. It was a decision driven by ambition, but also something I always wanted, which was to return to England. It’s a positive balance.”

“The first big challenge was to stabilize the club, which had fallen to the bottom of the table, very close to the relegation places. The priority was to stabilise, then gradually improve the quality of play and the individual quality of the players.”

He also highlighted how little time he had to implement the ideas in the beginning.

“It’s not easy in the Championship. We arrived after the Bristol game, did two training sessions and then immediately played the derby. Two days later, West Brom away. Only after that did we have time to train properly.”

“So the priority was to get it right, but already trying to present how we wanted to change some things.”

creating a game identity

One of the clearest messages from the interview is that Swansea are trying to redefine the way they play, moving away from previous formations.

“The team was coming from a less positive period and was also playing in a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 formation, which I clearly wanted to change from day one.”

“It’s about understanding the team, identifying the qualities we can work with and starting to shape our view of the game. Understanding the short and medium-term priorities is fundamental for the team to become more competitive.”

Matos also emphasized how complex the process is in a championship environment.

“Stability in this league comes from a lot of little things. It’s a complex process. It has to do with the number of games, the type of opposition and the variability you face.”

“This is part of the development of tactical maturity that the team needs. We have evolved, become more consistent, but there is still a lot of improvement to be made.”

Culture, identity and relationship with the club

Beyond tactics, Matos repeatedly returned to the importance of rebuilding Swansea’s identity and culture.

“A culture isn’t built in a day. The culture we want to develop is about values, a competitive mentality and the connection between players, fans and staff.”

“Swansea is a club with a very rich history and has a very clear identity from its evolution towards the Premier League. That was lost at some point, and that’s what we’re trying to develop again.”

He clarified that this is beyond the pitch.

“For it to survive, there has to be a recruiting vision that aligns with it, a vision of how the club views and engages with the community.”

“There must come a moment where, beyond belief, there is joy in the club’s identity. That’s how we are building.”

To reconnect with that identity, Swansea turned to figures from their past.

“That cultural side is very strong and still exists, but short-term results can push clubs away from it. That was happening.”

“One of our concerns was to bring in Joe Allen and Leon Britton, who represent that period. We found a development path while respecting the essence of the club.”

Competing with top teams and raising the standards

Matos also talked about changing the mentality within the team, especially in matches against stronger opponents.

“It was important to find a base eleven and continuity to make the team more competitive and more effective.”

“We want to look at the top teams and not only compete, but try to dominate them, whether through possession or through pressure.”

“It was important for the club to realize again that it is possible to stay in high positions and compete with the best teams.”

He emphasized that results remain at the center of everything.

“The most important thing is always to win. That’s the basis on which you are evaluated. The way you do it may change, but winning is always the objective.”

Managing change and dealing with pressure

Despite a long-term contract, Matos made clear that short-term pressures still define his role.

“This is a volatile profession, evaluated in the short term. You have to build the process with the idea that there should be feedback from day one.”

“At the same time, your concern should be to improve the quality of the game. This should be visible to the owners and the fans.”

He also stressed the need for gradual development rather than major changes.

“You can’t change everything at once. Sometimes it’s possible depending on the results, sometimes not. You need care on an individual level when making changes.”

“We managed to find stability. We haven’t used a large number of players and we are the team with the lowest number of muscle injuries in the league. This shows the culture and sensitivity.”

Transfer Strategy and Squad Management

One of the most relevant sections to Swansea’s future and players like Zane Vipotnik is how the club approached the transfer market.

“Our biggest concern was not to lose players in January. It’s not about bringing in 14 players and sending out 14.”

“It’s about looking at the team, understanding the priorities, and starting to build something. Only after building can you understand the path.”

Rather than rebuild, Swansea opted for targeted additions.

“We signed Gustavo Nunes from Brentford, Leo Walta and Joel Ward. Each brought something different and added depth in the short term.”

“Joel brought experience and stability. The team needed that. Gustavo is a huge talent and gave us more options, which helped maintain our mobility.”

Matos also highlighted the internal focus.

“Our main objective was to look at all the players including the academy, the squad and those on loan and start building from there.”

What comes next for Swansea?

With survival secured, attention turns to the next phase of the project.

“You always have to build on the present knowing that the future will shape us. We want the club to continue to grow and move towards a play-off position.”

“But it is a very competitive league with a large number of games. Emotional stability is essential.”

He also spoke about the physical demands of the championship.

“We have more games than Bayern. It’s such a high number that you need emotional stability and a strong process.”

“The team must remain focused on training and recovery, even if training time is limited.”

Finally, he outlined a broader vision for the club.

“It’s about building culture, short-term competitiveness and long-term value. That includes the department, the fans, the community and scouting.”

“Everything should work under the same approach, with a clear process that allows players to arrive fresh and ready to compete.”

What does this mean for Swansea

This entire interview shows that Swansea is no longer operating as a short-term survival project.

There is a clear emphasis on stability, identity and controlled development. Swansea suffered from losing key players in January. With a stronger structure now in place, any summer decision will likely follow the same logic – consistent with the broader project set out by Matos.

This makes it much more than a standard transfer case. It is part of a wider rebuild that will define Swansea’s next steps.

New Jersey Devils win general manager free agent frenzy.

Sunny Mehta was named Devils GM on Thursday evening. Mehta wanted devils. And the devils wanted him.

The stars aligned with it.

Mehta, an analytical guru, will bring a fresh perspective to the position left by former GM Tom Fitzgerald. Said approach begins immediately.

The Devils have a long list of things to address ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft and free agent frenzy.

So, where does he start?

Decision on Sheldon Keefe and coaching staff

First and foremost, Mehta will have to decide whether Sheldon Keefe will remain as head coach.

Keefe made a case for himself during the 2025–26 regular season with a healthy Jack Hughes in the lineup. New Jersey went 14-10-1 after the Olympic break. Before Hughes’ injury, the Devils were 11–4–1. If you remove the sandwich from the season when Hughes was injured that’s a combined 104-point pace.

Did he rely sufficiently on the powers of New Jersey? Certainly not when Hughes was out, nor when he was less than 100%.

The question becomes, can they get enough value from the rest of their roster if Hughes gets injured again in the future?

It depends on Mehta.

The rest of the coaching staff is also not in trouble. The power play and penalty kill were mediocre. The goaltender, namely Jacob Markstrom, was hit or miss – and most of the time, Markstrom missed.

Most, if not all, of the support staff were working on expiring contracts. Mehta will soon evaluate the work and decide whether to renew or not.

strengthen his cabinet

Mehta joins fellow assistant general managers Martin Brodeur, Dan MacKinnon and Kate Madigan.

It is unlikely that Brodeur—perhaps the most famous devil of all time—will be relieved of his duties. However, would Mehta want to surround himself with forward thinkers like him?

These are decisions that can come later. We know there are GM positions open in Nashville, Toronto, and as of this morning, Vancouver.

With only so many positions to fill, candidates can remain in their current roles, or look for something new if they wish.

Would Jamie Langenbrunner like to work for the organization he used to captain? How about Brett Pietersen? Does he want to continue working with Mehta after working together with the Florida Panthers?

If true change is going to happen, bringing in like-minded managers like Mehta will definitely turn things around.

Evaluate the scouting department

Fitzgerald has a poor track record in the draft.

They performed well alongside names like Luke Hughes, Lenny Haminaho and potential stud goaltender Mikhail Yegorov.

Simon Nemec is still in question as to his draft status, but it looks like this could work out. However, players like Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier—who had just scored 40 goals—were there for the taking. An argument can be made that he still misses out on the second overall pick in 2022.

And that’s exactly it. A large number of upsets and misses by Fitzgerald in key draft positions, such as when he selected Alexander Holtz and Chase Stillman, have hurt today’s roster.

What is depth scoring? Well, substitute Logan Stankoven for Stillman or Seth Jarvis for Holtz and maybe you’ll find out.

Mehta needs scouts he can trust to find gems outside the first handful of players. And he knows how to find them himself, advocating for Jesper Bratt when the Devils drafted him in 2016, when Mehta was head of the analytics department.

Sort out the major pending free agents

The Devils have three major contract issues they can address this summer.

Two, they have no choice. Arseniy Gritsyuk is a pending restricted free-agent. He is another man who chose to come to the devils and the devils chose to have him. His first NHL season after making a name for himself in the KHL was spectacular. In fact, it got so good, even Jack Hughes sees it as an original part.

He loves New Jersey, and New Jersey loves him. This should be easy to solve.

Perhaps the namecheck will be a little more difficult to sort out. The 22-year-old defenseman took a step forward this season, but you can still see where he lacks.

Offensively, the touch is there. He scored 11 goals in 68 games this season and found a clutch level the Devils could use.

However, there are still questions over his play defensively. It is reported that he could start by asking for a contract similar to Luke. Sure, he won’t be able to do that, but how far can Mehta bring down Namek and his camp?

And, of course, the captain needs a new deal on July 1, 2027. Does Mehta want to let that narrative continue for an entire season? Find out how far Hischier does or doesn’t want to commit to New Jersey and that decision will be made as soon as possible. The longer this goes on, the worse it will be for the devils.

address dougie hamilton

And finally, Mehta will have to address the Dougie Hamilton situation.

The Devils defenseman has not spoken publicly since December 17, when speculation arose that he had rejected a trade, and then allegations of a trade being made public by his agent.

It was later confirmed that Hamilton declined a deal that would have sent him to the San Jose Sharks.

It seems quite clear that Hamilton is unhappy with the current situation. Can Mehta improve it?

Or, does it give him a reason to move out of the $9 million cap hit that will give him the flexibility he needs to be a top-six forward?

One thing is certain. Clarity is needed with Hamilton. Either he is staying or he is going. Any uncertainty will only increase tension.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls