Manchester United’s Martial steadied by Zlatan pep talk
By Damian Smith
Manchester United’s Anthony Martial’s reported change in attitude is due to a strong pep talk from veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
It’s been a tough few months for Manchester United striker Anthony Martial, he lost his number nine jersey without any words from his boss, and has seen a drastic decline in form.
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He has seen his playing time diminish and has suffered personal problems on top of it all.
But after reports from the players’ agent, Phillipe Lamboley publicly stated that the player and himself were considering a loan move to La Liga side Sevilla.
This obviously did not impress Jose Mourinho and he asked the French twenty one year old to heed his advice and not be led astray by his agent.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, somewhat known for being a bit of a diva himself, decided to chime in and have a word with the young man himself.
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According to the Telegraph Zlatan took some time out and sat down with Martial.
He urged the player to ignore outside influences, focus on his football and trust that in the long run, listening to an experienced manager like Jose Mourinho is by far the best option for his career.
A tale of two seasons
Louis Van Gaal signed Anthony Martial from Monaco in January of Last year and he made an instant impact with the team. Scoring thirteen goals in all competitions and proving a solid partnership with Marcus Rashford.
This season however, United’s need for a proven goalscorer meant that both Rashford and Martial had to accept lesser roles with the team.
The biggest insult was of course losing the number nine shirt without being told.
The French international is still very young, and took the news like any other young person might, in a quiet sulk.
He must be commended for never sounding off to any reporters but unfortunately it clearly affected his form this season. With half the season already over he has only notched up six goals for his club.
Martial will be given the chance to prove that he can put all his woes behind him on Sunday when United take on Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
Jose Mourinho has promised that a good performance will result in more opportunities, starting with the premier league clash against Hull City.
We can only hope that Martial does get back to his best as the premier league benefits form such an exciting talent.