MAN UNITED
HOW do problem
Martial?
The Manchester United striker was at his most frustrating in this stalemate, failing to step up in the absence of top scorer Marcus Rashford.
If Jose Mourinho had got his way during his time at Old Trafford, Martial would no longer be wearing the famous red shirt, having tired of the forward’s indolence and inconsistency. Mourinho’s successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has gone the opposite way, putting his you like solve a Anthony faith in Martial, convinced he can unlock his potential where Mourinho and Louis van Gaal failed. At his best, Martial is a clinical predator, his turn of pace and cool finishing making him unplayable at times.
At his worst, he can appear apathetic, one wag on social media joking United will counter-attack one day, only to find Martial on his phone, such is his perceived lack of focus.
“He’s giving us everything,” said Solskjaer, a statement many United fans will find incredulous. “He’s started the last eight games and he’s running probably 20 per cent more than what he did when I came here.
“So it’s not just mental robustness and tactical, it’s that physical side we’ve had to work with, because they’re making strides. We’ll give him more support and give him rest when he deserves it, because he’s been asked to play too much as well, especially now when Marcus is injured. As a striker, if you don’t just get there that split second, that’s a massive difference, and I’ve praised him, I’ve sat down with him and I’m delighted with him.
“I know that he’s tired, but he’s never ever dodged a training session. He’s training, he’s available for every game, so I’m delighted with the boy.” There is no doubt United’s two-week mid-season break, with their next game not until a fortnight today at Chelsea, cannot come soon enough. With the players running on empty because of injuries to key men such as Rashford, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, the Reds’ squad is stretched and batteries need recharging.
They will be given a few days off, before reconvening for a warm-weather training camp in Spain, where new loan signing Odion Ighalo (above) will join up them. Now trailing leaders Liverpool by 38 points, and with just nine wins in their last 30 Premier League games, United appear to be regressing under Solskjaer.
They have failed to score in three successive league games for the first time since 2016, while they remain six points adrift of the final Champions League spot, having dropped down to sixth place.
But the coach is convinced United are on the right path, even if their fans have to endure turgid afternoons such as this, when even new signing Bruno Fernandes could not inspire a win. “I’ve been asked to do this job,” said Solskjaer. “I think the fans see what we’re trying to do and it had to be done.
“We’ve got players here now who will go that extra yard. They have the right mentality.
“That, for me, is the first tick. You don’t stay here if you don’t give everything to this team.”
Whether Martial ultimately ticks that box for United remains to be seen. So far, the evidence would suggest not.
De Gea ............................................ 7 Wan-Bissaka .................................. 6 Lindelof ......................................... 6 Maguire .......................................... 7 Shaw .............................................. 6 Fred ............................................... 6 Pereira ........................................... 4 Mata .............................................. 6 Bruno Fernandes ........................... 6 James ............................................ 4 Martial ........................................... 4
Greenwood (Pereira 72, 6) Lingard (Mata 87) Dalot (Jame 87)
Wolves are the first team to keep a Premier League clean sheet away against both Manchester clubs in a season since Chelsea in 2013-14.
This was Wolves’ first 0-0 draw in the Premier League since the opening weekend against Leicester, while it was just their third in total in 63 Premier League games under Nuno Espírito Santo.