EPL

Ten Hag confident Martial can return to his best at Man Utd

By Sports Desk July 15, 2022

Erik ten Hag has demanded focus and motivation from Anthony Martial as the striker looks to ensure his Manchester United future.

Martial's United career seemed to be ebbing to a disappointing conclusion when he was loaned out to Sevilla in January.

The France international hardly set the world alight in Andalusia, either, scoring just once across 12 games in all competitions.

He has returned to United ahead of the 2022-23 campaign and has so far looked sharp in pre-season, netting in a 4-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday and in Friday's 4-1 victory over Melbourne Victory.

Ten Hag is confident there is more to come from the 26-year-old, who he says must be fully committed to getting the best out of himself.

The Dutchman told reporters in Australia: "I'm sure he can come back even better.

"I think when he has the right focus and the right motivation and he works hard he will have production because he is a good player.

"I say when he has the right focus and every day delivers his maximum then he will have production and it's up to him."

Depending on Cristiano Ronaldo's future, Martial is likely to compete with Marcus Rashford for a place on the left of United's attack under Ten Hag, who has been impressed with the link-up he has seen between Jadon Sancho, right-back Diogo Dalot and playmaker Bruno Fernandes on the opposite flank.

"From the right side I was quite satisfied and we create a lot off the right side, four or five really good chances, we turned around the game, that was the really good thing, we don't come down, we react and we deal with the setback," said Ten Hag, whose team fell behind on Friday before going on to win comfortably.

"Sure, Sancho [performed well], but I think the whole right side played really well because there's a good connection between Jadon Sancho and Diogo and Bruno [Fernandes]."

Related items

  • Real Madrid hit Twente for seven, five-star Wolfsburg also win big Real Madrid hit Twente for seven, five-star Wolfsburg also win big

    Real Madrid had six different goalscorers as they trounced Twente 7-0 in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday, while Wolfsburg beat Galatasaray 5-0.

    Signe Bruun opened the scoring three minutes into the Group B encounter at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, then Maria Mendez's header gave Madrid a 2-0 half-time lead.

    Madrid, who had won one and lost one of their opening two games in the tournament, got a third through Naomie Feller five minutes into the second half, then Caroline Weir made it 4-0 with a brilliant free-kick.

    Mendez headed home her second of the encounter shortly after the hour mark, while Oihane Hernandez and Carla Camacho got on the scoresheet late on to complete the rout.

    The victory took Madrid second in the Group B standings ahead of Chelsea's trip to Celtic.

    Wolfsburg were also convincing victors in Group A, getting off the mark for this season's competition as Rebecka Blomqvist scored a hat-trick in their 5-0 thrashing of Galatasaray.

    The Bundesliga side – who failed to pick up a point or score a goal in their opening two matches – had a narrow 1-0 lead at half-time through Joelle Wedemeyer, before Blomqvist took centre-stage in the second period.

    She tapped home after Janina Minge struck the crossbar, then added her second goal in the 77th minute and her third six minutes into stoppage time.

    Vivien Endemann powered home a fifth for Wolfsburg one minute later, as they provisionally moved within three points of Lyon and Roma ahead of their meeting.

  • Amorim will 'change the energy' at Man Utd, says Fernandes Amorim will 'change the energy' at Man Utd, says Fernandes

    Ruben Amorim has been backed to "change the energy" at Manchester United by club captain Bruno Fernandes.

    Amorim officially took the reins as United head coach on Monday, with Ruud van Nistelrooy having served as interim boss after Erik ten Hag was sacked last month.

    The 39-year-old enjoyed a wildly successful four-year spell in charge of Sporting CP, which began in March 2020, two months after the Lisbon giants sold Fernandes to United.

    Amorim delivered two Primeira Liga and two Taca da Liga trophies during his time at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, recording a 71% win rate through 231 matches at the helm (164 wins, 34 draws, 33 losses).

    In the Primeira Liga, they won 77% of their games under him (120/156), the best win ratio of any team across Europe's top 10 leagues since he took charge.

    Amorim's first game in charge of United will be a Premier League trip to Ipswich Town on November 24, and Fernandes has faith that he can change their fortunes.

    "I hope he does the same here because you know sometimes a person can change the energy of a space, if it's the right moment," Fernandes told United's media channels.

    "We hope this is the right moment for him to come and bring his energy, bring his qualities and his knowledge of football, because he's done something really, really special at Sporting.

     

    "If someone doubts that, it's about just looking at the past. Sporting was to be about 20 years without winning the league, and he got back to win the league, and he won it two times in four years with a really youthful team, in a moment of change.

    "So hopefully he can do the same here for us and [hopefully] it's going to be a successful time for all of us."

    Amorim will become the youngest coach to lead United since a 33-year-old Wilf McGuinness took charge of them on Boxing Day 1970 against Derby County, and Fernandes believes one of his main strengths is his man-management style.

    "Obviously for me, what stands out as I said to you is the connection he has with the players," Fernandes added.

    "I've seen many, many moments where players were struggling and he kept his faith in them. He always goes to the press conference and defends his players. 

    "He had a really youthful team so they needed that and hopefully when he comes here he can do the same again with the youth.

    "Us players with the most experience, we have to help him to get that and get the best out of every player at this club."

  • Malacia makes Man Utd comeback after 17 months out Malacia makes Man Utd comeback after 17 months out

    Tyrell Malacia made his injury comeback after a 17-month spell on the sidelines, returning for Manchester United Under-21s against Huddersfield in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

    The Netherlands international has not played since coming off the bench for his country against Croatia in the Nations League semi-final in June 2023.

    Since that game, Malacia has had knee surgery twice in an attempt to solve an injury that had proved difficult to manage.

    The 25-year-old made 39 appearances in all competitions for United after signing in the 2022-23 season, but has not featured for the first team since.

    He played for 45 minutes in Huddersfield and was taken off at half-time, although it was a quiet night for him and he rarely got on the ball.

    Malacia's return to competitive action coincided with the day that new head coach Ruben Amorim met some of United's senior players at the training ground.

    Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer were all among the players he saw while doing their individual injury rehab.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.