Rashford: Martial is pushing me to improve

Marcus Rashford comes on as a substitute to replace Anthony Martial. Photo: Reuters / Jason Cairnduff

Marcus Rashford comes on as a substitute to replace Anthony Martial. Photo: Reuters / Jason Cairnduff

Published Sep 22, 2017

Share

SOUTHAMPTON - Anthony Martial must wait to discover if he has played his way back into Manchester United's starting line-up for the Premier League visit to Southampton after scoring for the second consecutive game.

The 21-year-old French international has started just one league match for Jose Mourinho this season but came off the bench to score a penalty in last week's 4-0 win over Everton.

He followed that up with a start and a goal in the midweek League Cup victory against Championship side Burton Albion, with his overall performance earning praise from Mourinho.

But with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku rested for the Burton game and expected to return, Martial appears to be among four players competing for two starting places against the Saints - along with Marcus Rashford, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.

"Anthony Martial wanted to do things," said Mourinho. "Some he did amazingly well, others not so well but he was always trying and that commitment and happiness on the pitch is always important.

"Martial was good, Lingard was good, Mata was good. I think everybody in attacking areas gave a good dynamic in the team and especially happiness. We look happy playing at this moment and that is what I want."

Martial struggled for form and consistency in Mourinho's first year in charge at United last season, and was even criticised for his attitude by the Portuguese manager.

But he has clearly won over Mourinho so far in the current campaign even if competition for places is intense, particularly with Lukaku having scored seven goals in as many games and Rashford having found the net five times already.

"It's difficult when you're in and out of the team, but we have to find the positives out of it and I think we have both done that," said Rashford of the battle for places.

"I think the competition is always positive competition because we're improving each other every day when we're in training and in the games. We're pushing each other more and more. It's a bit of a headache for the manager but it is a good headache for him to have."

AFP

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Related Topics: