Angry Martial
SOLSKJAER WAS TREACHEROUS OVER PLAYING ME WHEN INJURED & JOSE SHOWED ME NO RESPECT
ANTHONY MARTIAL has broken his silence on his stuttering career at Manchester United.
The Frenchman has come out shooting from the lip at his former managers – denouncing Jose Mourinho for treating him with no respect and accusing Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of treachery.
Martial believes he is misunderstood by supporters and media alike because he has often been forced to play through the pain barrier – and that his refusal to be a faker cost him a World Cup winner’s medal after he was left out of the France squad for 2018.
The 26-year-old strike star revealed: “For the last two seasons, I have regularly played injured.
“People don’t know about that. I couldn’t accelerate during the four months of the Covid season.
“But Solskjaer told me he needed me, so I played.
“Given my game, if I cannot accelerate then it becomes very complicated.
“But the coach did not bother to tell the media and obviously I ended up getting injured.
“I took it very badly. I had a feeling of injustice.
Sacrifice
“You are being asked to sacrifice yourself for the team – and then you are dismissed.
“For me, it is almost treachery. “That’s what I hate. I can be blamed – but not for being fake.”
Martial’s attitude has been questioned regularly in the seven years since he was signed in a £36million deal from Ligue 1 side Monaco.
Mourinho was especially critical of the France star and wanted to sell him during his spell in charge after succeeding Louis van Gaal in 2016.
Martial said: “Basically, I have to display my disappointment if I miss a chance otherwise people say, ‘Ah, he doesn’t really care’.
“I’ll tell you simply: I am a footballer, not an actor.
“I see players showing their rage so that the media and public think they are motivated.
“But the media circus does not interest me. I cannot change to please others.”
In an explosive interview with France Football magazine, Martial explained how his problems started when he fell out with Mourinho over the Portuguese’s decision to strip him of the No.9 shirt when Romelu Lukaku signed for United in 2017.
Martial said: “During my holidays, Mourinho told me he wanted me to take the No.11 shirt, explaining it was a great number because it belonged to Ryan Giggs.
“I have great respect for Giggs, but I told him I preferred to keep the No.9.
“I scored 17 goals in my first season and had 13 assists and in the first part of the 2017-18 season I was top scorer.
“Then Mourinho bought Alexis Sanchez and I hardly played any more.
“It cost me my World Cup place. I should have been there.
“Mourinho spoke about me to the press. He likes to play these games.
“If I said something it was me showing a lack of respect.”
Martial, who was loaned out to
Sevilla last season, is now seen as a key performer by new Old Trafford manager Erik ten Hag.
But he has played just 45 minutes this season through injury and is struggling with an Achilles problem.
And he admitted that he must accept some of the blame.
Vicious
Martial added: “I am not beyond reproach. When people say I lack consistency, it is true.
“When I have my place, often it goes well, but when I am used less my performances are not the same.
“It is a vicious circle. I am less effective when I play less – and then I play even less.”