Fred slams 'annoying' Scholes over Antony comment: 'Brazilians have quality in their blood, been that way since Pele'

Speaking to ESPN Brasil about Paul Scholes' shocking criticism of Antony for his trickery in the Sheriff Tiraspol win, Fred explained: "It’s very annoying that they want to say that.

"I think it starts with us being Brazilians. Brazilians have quality in their blood. It’s always been that way since Pele, to have quality, to dribble, to score, to dance, to smile.

"So I think people have to understand this aspect that we have. So it wasn’t offensive to anyone what he did.

"Of course, if it’s offensive, we’ll come to him in the dressing room and talk. But it was not offensive to anyone. It’s his game. I think he has to keep doing it."

In his trademark good-natured humour, the Manchester United midfielder continued: "Dribbling, doing what he likes to do because he has the quality for it, so he has to keep doing it. Casemiro and I don’t have the quality for that (laughs), so we can’t do it. Leave it to Antony, to Neymar, to Vini [Vinicius Jr], to those players in attack.

"So he has to do it. I think those who have quality have to show it on the pitch there. If you want to control differently, you can control. You want to do a spin that he likes to do, you have to do it. Dance, you can dance.

"As long as it’s with respect to the opponent, obviously. But I think it’s valid. And I think people have to stop talking on television there, wanting to pull up a subject. Because you have the quality for it, so you have to do it."

Fred was then asked if Scholes' criticism was 'out of proportion', to which he replied: "I think so. Also because, as I told you, they are players who have a lot of quality to do that. So sometimes people end up… I don’t know, in their countries they don’t have players of the same quality who do that.

"And they think it’s different, they think it’s a different culture, I don’t know. I don’t know what they think. But I think it’s very annoying that they want to say that. Them wanting to gloat over Brazil’s players.

"Because they have quality to do it. Neymar sometimes does a rainbow flick, makes a dribble.

"As I said, I think you have to do it, you have the quality to do it, you can do it. As long as you respect the opponent, you have to show it on the field. So I don’t see any problem."

The Samba style of Brazilian players is something that can never go away from the beautiful game. And unlike Scholes, the Old Trafford faithful loved every minute of Antony's skills.

Had Antony's pass found the intended target, people would probably be praising him rather than criticism.

Nevertheless, it's up to the 22-year-old to silence the critics with some special goals in the coming games.

Source: ESPN Brasil