Brentford mischief-maker mocks Man United flop Antony's ear-cupping celebration

Neal Maupay became the latest footballing figure to mock Antony's exaggerated celebrations after Manchester United's hollow FA Cup semi-final victory against Coventry on penalties.

The £85million man has been widely pilloried for his exuberant display after featuring only in the latter stages of the uneven contest from Erik ten Hag's bench.

The Brazil international was brought on in the second-half after United had set up a commanding 3-0 lead against the Championship side - only to squander their cushion and be forced into a period of extra-time after the Sky Blues pulled three back.

After Haji Wright's would-be decider was chalked off through a sharply controversial VAR intervention, the Wembley clash was forced to penalties, with Man United eventually claiming the 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Antony's response to confirmation of a spot in next month's final against Manchester City was to cup his hands to his ears in a move viewed by some as 'shameless' in light of the nature of his club's victory.

Brentford forward Maupay - who has previously been thought of as the Premier League's biggest villain when it comes to an irritating mastery of the dark arts - appeared to confirm Antony's move as a bridge too far with a lightly mocking post on social media.

'Just for the record, not even I would do this (weeping emoji),' Maupay commented on a video of Antony's post-match gesture, poking fun at his own established reputation.

Maupay has previously clashed with players on and off the pitch, most recently drawing teenage darts sensation - and avowed Man United fan - Luke Littler into his mischief-making.

Littler had commented that the Frenchman 'talks more than he scores' after Maupay mocked a photo of Scott McTominay holding onto his shirt during their two sides' 1-1 draw last month.

Maupay then teased the 17-year-old back, joking that he had reeled in 'a big fish' in drawing Littler's ire.

The 27-year-old has previously parodied Tottenham midfielder James Maddison's darts celebration, and 'whispered taunts about Kyle Walker's children' during a fiery encounter with the Manchester City defender.

But the Brentford player was far from the only one to comment on Antony's behaviour during Sunday's tie, with Clinton Morrison noting in his commentary for BBC 5Live that taunting Coventry's fans should be a secondary concern for the out-of-form winger.

'He needs to concentrate on himself, because he could be playing in the Championship next season,' the co-commentator said in response to the on-pitch display.

Gabby Agbonlahor dubbed the former Ajax star a 'prat' and wondered if he was in a league of his own on social media, writing: 'Is this guy the most shameless flop ever to grace our beautiful league?

'Shame on you Antony, you wouldn't even start for Coventry you prat'.

Rio Ferdinand was quick to point out that Antony's behaviour should be at odds with the culture at his former club, urging the winger to curtail the 'embarrassing' behaviour.

'It's just understanding the environment, understanding where you are. It's Coventry,' Ferdinand said on Monday. 'Yeah, cupping your ears, I get that to a big team or when it has been a really feisty game where you've been involved in all the feisty moments.

'I get that. But it wasn't even that.

'I just feel we've got a team that a lot of the time don't understand where we're at and can't manage any situation in a game. We've all been there, let leads slip, but you need some sort of management.'

Ferdinand also admitted he personally would be 'devastated' if a senior player in United's squad did not warn Antony over his behaviour.

He added: 'You'd like to see him doing it and them telling him straightaway: "Oi, you don't do that… that doesn't happen. We're lucky to be going through, it's an embarrassment we're still on this pitch".

'It's hard in the heat of it. Your timing has got to be perfect for it all to align like that.

'I would be devastated, I would be embarrassed now if there hasn't been a conversation from one of the senior players, like Marcus (Rashford) who understands United, grew up there.

'Or a Bruno (Fernandes), who is wearing the armband. Harry Maguire has huge experience. One of those guys… Luke Shaw, who is watching on.

'If one of those guys hasn't got hold of Antony and gone, "Listen, that don't happen here, man".'