Anthony deserved his chance, says Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO revealed that he recalled Anthony Martial against Watford yesterday to boost the France winger’s confidence. The relationship between player and manager has often been strained since Mourinho took over last summer, with Martial unhappy at losing a central striking role and his No9 jersey to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Martial had been the club’s leading scorer under Louis van Gaal last season.

By December, the player’s agent was suggesting Martial might be interested in a loan to Sevilla during the January transfer window.

Martial’s personal life has also come under scrutiny following the break-up of his marriage.

But Mourinho (with Martial, above), has been impressed with the player’s attitude in training and believed that he deserved a chance to start against Watford. The 21-year-old seized his opportunity, with Mourinho saying there is more to come.

‘The Anthony Martial I want is the Anthony Martial of the last two weeks of training if he trains in the way he did and performs naturally the way he did today – or better because I think he misses a bit of confidence,’ Mourinho said.

‘I kept shouting to him to attack the defender and go one against one. He needs that confidence. But he is working very well and I gave him the chance to start.

‘Normally I would start with Rashford because he played well at Leicester. I thought Marcus doesn’t need a boost and Anthony needs to feel that I am looking at him and I know what he did in training. He took his chance and he played well.’