Erik ten Hag has talked up Anthony Martial and the role he has played in Manchester United’s recent run of good form.
Ten Hag has already recorded his press conference for Tuesday’s game against Charlton, speaking after Friday’s 3-1 win over Everton.
Marcus Rashford is the man getting all the headlines and Ten Hag was asked about the other players in the frontline and whether they can step up with more goals.
Ten Hag says he thinks the 27-year-old Frenchman can do that as he continues his journey back to full fitness, where he can string together 90 minutes regularly.
Ten Hag talks up Martial
Ten Hag said of Martial’s fitness: “He cannot match in this moment the load of many games. That’s why we are looking for another striker.
“It is not about if we don’t rely on him, but the physical load is not in this moment so high that he can play every third game of every third day, a game of 90 minutes. So, I have to managed that together with him. So, we are really on the thin line at this moment because his profile.
“But the quality of Anthony Martial is so important for our match, for our game. He has the right movements, his ball security. So, he brings a lot for the team. Pressing, let’s not forget that.
“So, we need that profile to be a threat and also Marcus Rashford takes benefit from that. I am not concerned about that only Marcus Rashford has so many goals because I am convinced that other players as Martial play today.”
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Martial had a great pre-season under Ten Hag and seems well-suited to the Dutchman’s approach, but we are still yet to see the best of him on a consistent basis this season.
He has not been fully fit regularly and even though this run of matches since the World Cup is his best sequence of the season, it is clear from Ten Hag’s comments that he still has more fitness work to do.
It is clear that United need another forward by the end of this month because Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit has left us short on attacking depth.
Wout Weghorst currently looks like the most likely candidate but that negotiation is not a straight-forward one given he is currently on loan at Besiktas from Burnley.
Source: unitedinfocus.com
