Martial even better than expected; United secure last minute win
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits that Anthony Martial’s performances at Old Trafford have succeeded the club’s expectations.
Eyebrows were raised when United splashed out a reported £36million to sign the French striker from Monaco, with the fee set to rise over Martial’s time with the Red Devils.
However, the 20-year-old has so far netted eight goals in 23 appearances in all competitions and Van Gaal is over the moon with his progress.
“I am very pleased with how Anthony is developing himself, which is why he always plays, more than I had imagined before,” Van Gaal told the United website.
“I could not predict that he would play almost every match because when you are 19 years old [when he joined] the rhythm of the Premier League is exceptional, which is why I am very pleased with him.”
Van Gaal welcomed back Adnan Januzaj at Old Trafford this week after his season-long loan spell with Borussia Dortmund was cut short and the Dutchman has urged the Belgian youngster to follow Martial’s example.
“In the same way as Martial, Adnan has to do it for himself,” Van Gaal added.
“However, I have talked with Adnan, saying that I believe in him and I want to help him, he has to do it himself.
“It is the same thing with Martial as he has to do it constantly. Until now he shows it, but he has to do it more and this is what I say every match.”
Of course, there can be some comfort in the fact that United are seldom conceding at the other end either. They’ve let in only six in 17 games at Old Trafford this season. But the Theatre of Dreams was supposed to allude to fantasy rather than sleepiness.
Old Trafford half-time scores
| Date | Teams | Half-time scoreline |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | Man Utd v Man City | 0-0 |
| Oct 28 | Man Utd v Middlesbrough | 0-0 |
| Nov 3 | Man Utd v CSKA Moscow | 0-0 |
| Nov 7 | Man Utd v West Brom | 0-0 |
| Nov 25 | Man Utd v PSV Eindhoven | 0-0 |
| Dec 5 | Man Utd v West Ham | 0-0 |
| Dec 19 | Man Utd v Norwich | 0-1 |
| Dec 28 | Man Utd v Chelsea | 0-0 |
| Jan 2 | Man Utd v Swansea | 0-0 |
| Jan 9 | Man Utd v Sheff Utd | 0-0 |
There is a distinct sense of discomfort in the knowledge that the famous old ground is becoming synonymous with some of the dullest football in the world right now, and yet there are no signs that the manager is of a mind to change his approach.
Van Gaal might have got the win in the end but whether he can point to one-goal wins over Swansea and Sheffield United as evidence of a team moving in the right direction is questionable. The eight-game winless streak prior to that, one which the Dutchman has since admitted was “terrible”, still hangs over this side.
With trips to Newcastle and Liverpool coming up, this was not a display to instil confidence. Only the result offers United something to cling to. Although there is an even more dismal thought. For their fans, there’s the small comfort that it’s another fortnight until the next Old Trafford ordeal.
