Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has suffered a proverbial “sophomore slump” at Old Trafford this season. The 2015 summer transfer window deadline day signing turned heads when he arrived due to his massive transfer fee, but immediately lived up to the hype with an amazing start.
He cooled off from there, but still ended up being one of United’s best, if not the best outfield player last season. Year two has been extremely disappointing for the young France scorer. Under new management, he has struggled to find his place, with playing time and production dipping tremendously.
Then came plenty of transfer rumors and stories speculating about his unsettledness. He was even urged to remain patient, and not to “do a Pogba” and leave the club too early.
Mourinho has criticized the performances and attitude of Martial this season, and the Portugese maintains that Anthony Martial still lacks a bit of confidence. Mourinho met the media a few hours ago for a pre-match preview press conference, and the Portugese explained why he wants Anthony Martial to be more like Marcus Rashford today.
“I know we are together for almost 10 months. The same way I know the players much better now and the players should know me also much better now.
“The same way I know what the players like, I think they also know what I like. The same way I have to go in the direction of the players, the players they have also to come in my direction,” Mourinho said.
“That’s why Marcus Rashford, even without scoring goals, even without scoring in the league since September, even without that, he was always a player that I trust, always a player that I play, always a player that I support. Because he was always coming in my direction, in the direction I want from a player, what I want as a Manchester United manager.
“He is about that. It’s about getting to know each other better and better and better and going in the direction of things we like.
“Do I think Anthony is a player with great potential? Yes I think. Do I think he can be successful for me? Yes I think. But he needs to give me things I like very much.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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