Van Gaal adds a bit of caution after great Martial goal
LONDON: Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has warned the club’s fans not to expect too much, too soon of “fantastic” £36 million signing Anthony Martial following his goalscoring debut against Liverpool.
Martial had Old Trafford rocking when his outstanding solo effort sealed United’s 3-1 victory over their bitterest rivals.
The Frenchman – who became football’s most expensive teenager when he signed from Monaco on deadline day – doesn’t know enough English to communicate with his teammates but Ashley Young quipped afterwards: “If he talks like that on the pitch, that’s all he needs. What a goal by Anthony. We are using Marouane (Fellaini) as our translator for him.”
Van Gaal also hailed Martia but the praise was expressed with caution that the 19-yearold must not be built up too quickly by supporters who first saw Cristiano Ronaldo as a young player and watched him develop into the best player in the world.
“He scored a fantastic goal. I knew he could dribble and had pace but his finish was fantastic too. It shall give him a boost of course, but you cannot expect (young) players to have consistency. At 19 or 20, it shall come with ups and down. He has to adapt to a new culture.
“This was the right sort of game for him to come on as substitute because Liverpool were coming at us to equalise so there was more space. He scored a marvellous goal and I saw that physically he can play in the Premier League. Our next game is at PSV, but I can’t guarantee he will start.”
After a poor opening 45 minutes. United broke the deadlock early in the second half when Daley Blind struck Juan Mata’s free-kick in a move rehearsed on the train- ing ground.
Van Gaal, criticised last week for not showing his players enough warmth, was happy to hit back.
“All the meetings and sessions on the training ground have paid off,” he smirked. Blind also confirmed: “We have practised that a lot. Sometimes it goes in – but usually I have to take a first touch.”
Ander Herrera’s penalty made it 2-0 before Christian Benteke threatened to lead an undeserved Liverpool fightback with a goal from an overhead kick.United now sit second in the table behind neighbours City and a bullish Van Gaal said: “Our aim is to be the best.”
For Liverpool, it was a second consecutive defeat conceding three goals and their deflated manager Brendan Rodgers admitted: “I was disappointed with the result and performance. We didn’t keep the ball long enough to create.
“We gave away possession too quickly. For me, it is always too late if you wait until you are 2-0 behind. I like players to take initiative before then.”
United return to the Champions League after a two-year absence in PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday but captain Wayne Rooney will again be missing with a muscle complaint.
“I don’t want to take any risks with our captain,” confirmed Van Gaal. “I don’t think he shall play against PSV. It is a minor injury but I don’t want to take risk. I think he will play against Southampton next Sunday.” – Daily Mail