MARTIAL’S UPTURN IN FORM DUE TO MORE ‘FOCUS’
JOSE Mourinho says Anthony Martial is “more focused” this season after speaking to the French forward about his future. After a strong first season at Old Trafford, Martial had become a slightly marginalised figure at Old Trafford, scoring just four league goals in 18 starts.
Personal problems might have contributed to his poor form, and at various points it seemed the forward would leave United. Inter are understood to have asked for Martial in any deal for Ivan Perisic, and Tottenham were also said to be interested.
Although Martial has not started either of United’s first two games of the season, he has scored twice in two substitute appearances, against West Ham on the opening day and in the 4-0 win over Swansea last Saturday.
“We had a conversation about his future here,” Mourinho said after the game at the Liberty Stadium.
“It was all positive. I think he has a good connection on the pitch with Paul Pogba, with Romelu Lukaku. I think it’s coming – his confidence is growing. Two periods of 20 minutes, scoring two goals – it’s good for his confidence. We’re using him well and he has the right attitude.
“Of course he wants to play, he wants to start, he wants to be selected for the national team and go to the World Cup. To me, it’s simple: I can’t play in the Champions League, Premier League and cups with 11 players. I need a squad.”
Mourinho suggested that his colleagues were helping Martial off the pitch as well as on it. “That French language group we have – Marouane Fellaini, Paul, Lukaku – he’s very well integrated with. His professional level has improved; he’s working much better. We have high hopes for him, and he has to be happy now and improve.”
Martial replaced Marcus Rashford, who had a frustrating afternoon, but Mourinho believes it had more to do with the way the game went that he didn’t have the chances to score whereas Martial did.
“Honestly, I think if he was on the bench and if he came on in the last 15 minutes when the space was there, I think he would have done the same as the other guys.”
Rashford was on the receiving end of some loud and lengthy abuse from the Swansea fans, still upset that he dived to win a penalty against them at Old Trafford last season.
“I think so,” said Mourinho when asked if the treatment should be viewed as a compliment to Rashford. “If he was a bad player, nobody would try to provoke him. They see the speed, they see the danger; they think they probably can affect him.”
“He’s an English kid, a youngster, who plays for the national team,” Mourinho added, before correcting himself. “Oh, sorry, they’re Welsh.”
Another United player to start the season strongly was Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian forward set up two goals on Saturday, one a perfect through-ball to Pogba for United’s third. That, added to the assists he registered against West Ham, means he has created four goals already this season, when he managed just one last term.
“He is bright, bubbly, good in training,” Phil Jones said of Mkhitaryan. “He applies himself very well. He is always first in the door and last out. He is that type of guy. He loves football and you could see that when enjoying his football he creates assists. He is a talented player.”
Meanwhile, according to national teammate Martial, United’s Paul Pogba is the world’s best midfield player.
Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus in 2016, scored five goals and provided four assists in 30 Premier League appearances last campaign.
The 24-year-old started the current season strongly with two goals and an assist in the first two league matches and Martial believes his compatriot could reach the next level and become the best footballer in the world.
“Paul is very strong mentally and very sure of himself,” Martial told United’s website (www.manutd.com).
“He is a big guy; he is very technical on the ball and has a lot of endurance. I would say he is probably the best midfield player in the world.
“He is still young, too, so he has a lot to work on and he can get even better. If he continues to play and improve like he is doing, then I think he is also going to win the Ballon d’Or award in the next five years.”
Martial also praised Pogba’s attributes off the pitch and said the duo were aiming at silverware in domestic and national tournaments.
“We want to win a lot of trophies together at United, and we also want to win the World Cup with France,” the 21-year-old added.
The United duo will be looking to extend their flying start to the campaign when the club host Leicester City at Old Trafford today. – Reuters & The Independent