Martial turns on the magic to show Jose he can still dazzle
MAYBE, just maybe, Anthony Martial is getting the message.
When the young Frenchman killed off Watford with Manchester United’s second goal, Jose Mourinho stood on the touchline and punched the air repeatedly.
There have been occasions when he must have felt like punching Martial, such has been his palpable frustration at the winger’s lack of progress.
The man who could end up costing United £58million has endured a difficult second season after such a bright start at Old Trafford.
At times, the confidence of those early days seemed to have deserted him as he drifted out of the picture.
Mourinho has challenged Martial to make the most of his first-team opportunities and then publicly rebuked him for not doing so.
He has benched him and, at times, left him out altogether. Yesterday, the 21-year-old was a surprise starter and justified his manager’s decision with a man-of-the- match performance, helping create the first goal for Juan Mata and scoring the second himself.
For all the criticism, the former Monaco winger has been involved in more league goals for United than any other player since his sensational goalscoring debut against Liverpool 17 months ago.
Martial terrorised the Watford defence and was given a standing ovation when he left the field 10 minutes from time.
He was the pick of an irrepressive United attack, whose only failing was not making more of the chances they created.
For 30 minutes, it was a painfully familiar story for United. Mourinho has bemoaned United’s finishing in nine league draws this season.
But in the end Watford had no answer as the home side got around them with Martial on the left and Antonio Valencia on the right.
The manager said: ‘It was the kind of football that if, instead of being a Mourinho team it is somebody else’s team, you would say art. It’s my team, so you just say it’s very good.’
Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes did his best to frustrate United in the first half, clawing away Paul Pogba’s 30-yard drive and keeping out another effort by Martial. Mata finally beat the Brazilian in 32 minutes, flicking the ball home.
United made sure of victory with a second goal on the hour when Martial looked like he was going to cross before cleverly drilling a shot past Gomes.