Varun Pai
Solskjaer provides reason for selecting Anthony Martial for Manchester United vs Southampton
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided an update on why he selected Anthony Martial against Southampton.
The Red Devils drew the game against Southampton yesterday and did well to score the equalizer, thanks to a bit of magic from Paul Pogba and the subsequent goal by Mason Greenwood.
Martial started the game yesterday alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood but was substituted at the hour mark for the club’s summer signing in Jadon Sancho.
Solskjaer was asked about the Frenchman’s inclusion in the game and the Norwegian replied almost instantaneously, saying (h/t Manchester Evening News):
“We wanted to get Antho going, to have call it two more forwards, Anthony to drift into the left and Mason coming inside from the right.”
“Mason scores a very good goal, he didn’t have one of his best days, but he still contributes. When Jadon came on, I thought he looked really sharp for the first 10 or 15 mins, but then the whole team fell away, and in the last 15 mins we didn’t play particularly well.”
The Frenchman had a torrid 60 minutes and failed to impress in his first Manchester United start in five months. The 25-year-old was injured in the second half of last season and missed the end of the season, including the club’s Europa League final, where they lost to Villarreal on penalties.
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However, Martial returned to pre-season earlier this month and also featured in the club’s last pre-season game against Everton.
If the Frenchman does plan on working his way back into Solskjaer’s starting line-up, he might need to be scoring on a consistent basis. Martial has only scored 2 goals in his last 20 appearances for the club, and given that Edinson Cavani might return to the squad at some point in time, the 25-year-old will have to work hard to earn his spot in the line-up.
