JOSE: OUR MARTIAL IS NO DEPUTY NOW
JOSE MOURINHO believes Anthony Martial is getting closer to fulfilling his promise.
The Manchester United boss was ready to sell the French forward in the summer and his current deal runs out at the end of this season.
Martial, who has an option for an extra year on his existing contract, is yet to commit to a new long-term deal tying him to Old Trafford.
But with four goals in his last four games, he has established himself again as a key player for United.
Mourinho said: “One thing is that he’s a talented player, as everybody knows he is.
“Everybody knows since he was in Monaco that he’s a talented
player. Another thing is a talented player with consistency and an understanding of what a football match is in its entirety. “When you reach that level, or when you’re almost reaching that level, is when you become a top player.
“One thing is top talent, another is a top player. He’s now much closer to being a top player. “Obviously I’d like him to stay. I know the club wants him very much to stay. Hopefully he’s going to stay.”
Mourinho says he feels vindicated by successfully challenging an FA charge of misconduct.
He was in the dock after mouthing an obscenity in his native Portuguese into a TV camera as he walked down the Old Trafford touchline following United’s 3-2 win over Newcastle last month.
But the charge against
Mourinho was not proven by an independent commission, who found in favour of the Reds gaffer, who escaped a possible touchline ban.
The FA brought in lip readers and linguistics experts to build a case against him.
But Mourinho saw the charge overturned and said he felt justice had been done.
“You know the reason why I ask the club and lawyers to appeal was because I was 100 per cent that I was not guilty of this charge,” he said.
“But you never know how it ends. Yes, I’m pleased. But I know that I have to respect the process.”