Focus and motivation key to Anthony Martial becoming a success at Man Utd, says Ten Hag
- Sean Fisher
- 15 July 2022
Anthony Martial scored his second in two games since reuniting with Manchester United for their pre-season tour, and Erik ten Hag belives the Frenchman can continue to improve.
After scoring just one goal for Manchester United last season and being shipped out on loan to Sevilla, it looked as though Anthony Martial's Manchester United career was over.
However, the Spanish side opted against signing the striker, and he's seemingly impressed Erik ten Hag upon his return to the Red Devils.
Martial scored a superb solo effort against Liverpool in United's first pre-season friendly in Thailand, and scored again in their 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday morning.
With Cristiano Ronaldo wanting out of the club this summer, Martial may well be depended on by Ten Hag in the upcoming season.
Victory for the Reds in Melbourne! š#MUFC || #MUTOUR22
ā Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 15, 2022
"I'm sure he can come back even better," Ten Hag said after the first of United's three matches in Australia.
"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 max then he will have production and it's up to him."
Ten Hag was also pleased to see United's hard work on the training ground in action again on Friday, when Marcus Rashford and Edmond Lupancu's own goal wrapped up the comeback win.
A deflected Scott McTominay shot and Martial's goal had turned the match on its head just before the break after the Red Devils fell behind in the fifth minute to a Chris Ikonomidis strike.
The finish was as good as United's defending was poor but Ten Hag refused to pick out individuals for criticism.
"I don't want to talk about the individual because I think it was from the start high up the pitch," the Dutchman said.
ā Two wins from two games ā
ā Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 15, 2022
The ideal start to #MUTOUR22 for Erik's Reds š#MUFC pic.twitter.com/dUx5eqPwJ6
"The wrong choices and then it ends up like a pack of cards. It's not one individual, it is more the team who made mistakes.
"Second game, totally different approach from the opponent.
"They stand really back, really compact, we had to create by ourselves and from the left side it was not that easy.
"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.
"Sure (Jadon Sancho performed well) but I think the whole right side played really well because there's a good connection between Jadon Sancho and Diogo Dalot and Bruno (Fernandes), Martial and also McTominay."
