MARTIAL IS GAME FOR A LAUGH BUT SANCHEZ IS REAL THREAT
MAYBE Anthony Martial is the teeniest bit concerned about how Alexis Sanchez’s arrival will affect him – but he isn’t showing it.
Martial was all smiles after his winning goal at Burnley.
The France striker praised Romelu Lukaku’s build-up play before giving himself a pat on the back for his emphatic finish.
“Yeah, Romelu did very good work and after he gave me the ball, I did a good shot so I’m happy,” he said with a grin.
“Yes, it was a very great finish. Thanks!”
With that, Martial laughed and walked off to join his team-mates waiting on the United coach in the freezing cold of Turf Moor.
He has much to feel pleased about and his thunderous finish off the bar was the game’s one moment of quality.
It took his tally of goals to 11 this season, plus four assists, and he has scored in three successive Premier League games for the first time.
It was a timely reminder to Jose Mourinho of his ability as the United boss considers where best to deploy Sanchez.
The Chile star has played mainly on the left side of Arsenal’s attack, which is where Martial operates for United. Mourinho said: “Sometimes people look at strikers and analyse just the number of goals and it’s not fair.
“Romelu is a team player and today the quality, the vision, the pass to make Martial one against one was fantastic.
“When we put Martial in the one v one situation with a fullback it’s difficult for the fullback because he has so many attributes.
“He can go inside, he can go outside, he can shoot to the far post, he can shoot to the near post – like he did today. He has lots of attributes.
“Of course, we are happy. We just want consistency from him because the talent, we know.”
Despite Martial’s contentment, he should not be too pleased with himself and often he chose the wrong pass in promising attacking situations.
Lukaku operated as a conventional targetman, mainly with his back to goal, and Sanchez will offer a quicker, more direct running option.
Martial’s goal on 54 minutes came from United’s first shot on target and they were pedestrian in attack as they plodded forward, not helped by Juan Mata’s lack of pace on the right.
Jesse Lingard is not good enough to be a No.10 and it is easy to see why United are prepared to pay Sanchez a whopping amount because Mourinho knows he will give their attack another dimension.
Sanchez could make his debut at Yeovil on Friday in the FA Cup, although he appears to have arrived too late to impact on the title race.
United remain 12 points behind with 14 games left, although Phil Jones cited his first season at Old Trafford six years ago as proof that they should keep trying.
The Reds centre-half said: “I remember in my first season at United, we were 12 points clear and we ended up losing the title to Man City.
“We will keep fighting to the end and see where we get to.”