Jose takes a hard line with squad, says Martial
Anthony Martial has revealed Jose Mourinho is ‘hard’ with the United squad but insists it is for their benefit.
Martial, 21, has featured prominently for the Reds this season but only half of his 16 appearances have come as a starter and he has been included in the first XI on just three occasions in the Premier League.
Despite Mourinho’s apparent preference for Marcus Rashford in the league, Martial has begun the campaign strongly, scoring six across all competitions and only Romelu Lukaku has plundered more league strikes than the France international.
Martial made his first France start in over a year at Germany on Tuesday night and dazzled with a virtuoso dribble to set up Alexandre Lacazette’s opener. Martial could be recalled to the United line-up for the visit of Newcastle on Saturday and believes Mourinho’s management has improved his form.
“He’s hard with all of us and he is hard with me, there is no question,” Martial told Premier League TV. “But I know that it’s for my benefit. But I also know that he really likes me as a person, so there’s no issue about the discipline being for the wrong reasons.
“But the objective, of course, is to have all of us in good condition, and being fit to play every match and that is what I’m hoping to do.
“At the beginning we didn’t know each other too well, but over time we have got to know each other better. He knows my strengths and my weaknesses, such as they are, but the outcome is that we are learning to give everything in the right way.”
Martial’s start against Germany in Cologne was his first for Les Bleus since September last year and he was awarded a positive 7/10 by L’Equipe, who are renowned for their brutal ratings. France coach Didier Deschamps was pleased with his contribution. “It’s good for the team, it’s good for them,” Deschamps said. PAUL Pogba might have returned to Carrington last month to find the basketball hoops had been removed.
His extra-curricular activities on the court have caused concern among United staff members as they ponder literally wrapping him up in cotton wool between games once he has regained fitness.
Pogba initially trained alone at Carrington last month after sunning himself and sculpting his body in the Miami sunshine. It was there MARCUS Rashford’s finishing ability has left England coaches wide-eyed.
The United striker has been given few opportunities to lead the line under Jose Mourinho - but Gareth Southgate is adamant he is a top class goalscorer in the making.
“He’ll score goals definitely,” said Southgate, who plans to start the 20-year-old at centre-forward where Jose Mourinho noticed - via Instagram - how fond the Frenchman is of shooting hoops in his downtime and the United manager referred to his athleticism on the ball when he was asked whether Pogba would have any trouble passing a medical.
Mourinho mused last month he was maybe at ‘fault’ for United not receiving enough credit and suggested he might have to reconsider his profile and ‘cry’ about injuries.
He may also have to reconsider United’s transfer strategy to alleviate the burden on his most pivotal player. “I saw him Instagramming. swimming, karate, running, basket- against Brazil on Tuesday night in the absence of the injured Harry Kane. “His technique and his finishing ability are tremendous.
“Quite often we look across at each other in training and raise our eyebrows at some of the things he does. He’s a very exciting player.”
Mourinho claimed last month that Romelu Lukaku was undroppable at the point of United’s attack until Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns from ball, football, he does everything, so he must be fit,” Mourinho laughed.
United are slowly building a team around their ‘captain’ midfielder.
Pogba is expected to eventually inherit the armband under Mourinho and the Portuguese has tailored United’s transfer targets around his most expensive acquisition; Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antoine Griezmann, Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata - friends, Mino Raiola stablemates, team-mates past and present - have hovered prominently on United’s radar.
Another player on Mourinho’s wanted list before he rocked up at United was Renato Sanches. United refused to publicly undermine Louis van Gaal and could have clinched a deal for Sanches a week before he agreed to join Bayern Munich in May last year but were understood to be concerned that had they signed Sanches it would have all but confirmed their intention to replace Van Gaal with Mourinho.
Ultimately, Mourinho settled for injury. Rashford has been deployed on the left - but could have provided an alternative in the centre in the face of Lukaku’s seven-game goalless run. An impressive performance for his country could prompt a rethink from Mourinho.
Southgate is adamant both he and Mourinho are convinced they have a special talent on their hands.
“It’s amazing really that he’s been a player who’s been able to dip under a ‘nucleus’ of four signings, with just one of them a central midfielder. United’s lack of innovation between the defence and attack over the last month has reiterated the need for a central attacker, be it a forward-thinking midfielder or a playmaker. Mesut Ozil has received some encouragement from Mourinho with a view to a possible reunion and United have not ended their interest in Griezmann, filmed hugging Pogba in the France dressing room. Michael Carrick’s United career is petering out, Marouane Fellaini could leave in the summer and Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are in their late 20s. Rather than ease the strain on Pogba this year, United have increased it. Griezmann rejected them, Internazionale refused to budge over Ivan Perisic and Lukaku, however formidable he might appear, does not have the presence of his No.9 predecessor, a man who can get away with renaming his country. Samuel Luckhurst the radar as we think so much of him, not only his ability, but his mentality and his maturity,” said the England manager.
“He’s a very exciting player, but very grounded, wants to improve all the time. For me he’s going to be a top player. He has all the attributes of the top players I’ve worked with, but he’s still only 20. Jose wouldn’t mess around, but he picks him in all the big games and is on the field in