Martial exclusive: I must prove myself up front
Now in his fifth season at Manchester United and leading the line, Anthony Martial admits he must prove that he has evolved into one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old Frenchman discusses that ambition during an exclusive interview that appears in Wednesday evening’s edition of United Review, the historic match programme at Old Trafford.
When asked if he is currently more focused on scoring goals than compared to when he first joined the Reds in 2014, Martial agrees and outlines a desire to show his maturity up front.
“When I arrived at the club, I was just a young player,” explains the no.9. “I still hadn’t had the benefit of a proper full season as a professional first-team player in my legs. But now it’s my fifth season here, so now I have to prove and to show that I have evolved as a player and blossomed into one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When I came here I was still just a kid, and now I’ve grown up and I’ve become a lot more mature. Nowadays, I feel so much better in myself.”
When asked if he is currently more focused on scoring goals than compared to when he first joined the Reds in 2014, Martial agrees and outlines a desire to show his maturity up front.
“When I arrived at the club, I was just a young player,” explains the no.9. “I still hadn’t had the benefit of a proper full season as a professional first-team player in my legs. But now it’s my fifth season here, so now I have to prove and to show that I have evolved as a player and blossomed into one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When I came here I was still just a kid, and now I’ve grown up and I’ve become a lot more mature. Nowadays, I feel so much better in myself.”
United Review v Tottenham
Anthony Martial says"It’s my fifth season here, so now I have to prove and to show that I have evolved as a player and blossomed into one of the best strikers in the Premier League."
Martial is expected to start on Wednesday evening when Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur visit the Theatre of Dreams, for a much-anticipated fixture beneath the floodlights.
Anthony could play in a front three alongside Marcus Rashford and summer signing Daniel James, who has impressed the Frenchman since joining the club from Swansea City.
“He’s a player who is blessed with incredible pace,” says Martial. “He really is unbelievably fast and yet he is also someone who is able to choose the right option. In spite of all that pace, he doesn’t lose control, he keeps his head and then often manages to make the right choice.
“That’s a big plus for a forward player as that way he can make assists for us all. He really is a top player and someone I wasn’t aware of before, so quite honestly, that makes him a great addition.”
Anthony could play in a front three alongside Marcus Rashford and summer signing Daniel James, who has impressed the Frenchman since joining the club from Swansea City.
“He’s a player who is blessed with incredible pace,” says Martial. “He really is unbelievably fast and yet he is also someone who is able to choose the right option. In spite of all that pace, he doesn’t lose control, he keeps his head and then often manages to make the right choice.
“That’s a big plus for a forward player as that way he can make assists for us all. He really is a top player and someone I wasn’t aware of before, so quite honestly, that makes him a great addition.”
As for Rashford, Martial believes the England international is flourishing as a player this season. “For me, Marcus is quite a complete player,” explains the former AS Monaco man in United Review. “He is young but he’s a guy with a lot of experience because he started out so young.
“I think right now he is bringing a whole new dimension to his game. I hope he’ll keep going like that because that will help us a lot to improve and assist the team in general.”
“I think right now he is bringing a whole new dimension to his game. I hope he’ll keep going like that because that will help us a lot to improve and assist the team in general.”
United Review v Tottenham
Anthony Martial on Daniel James says"He’s a player who is blessed with incredible pace. He really is unbelievably fast and yet he is also someone who is able to choose the right option. That’s a big plus for a forward player."
Tottenham have made a disappointing start to the season on the whole, which led to a recent change of manager, and Martial admits he has been surprised by the visitors’ indifferent results.
“Yes, I have been surprised because they had a good season last time around and managed to make it to the Champions League final, so I was expecting them to be doing better,” admits Anthony.
“But I’m sure they will manage to bounce back and climb up the table. I have no doubts that they will because they have a good side with some great players.”
Read the full interview with Anthony Martial by ordering a copy of United Review.
“Yes, I have been surprised because they had a good season last time around and managed to make it to the Champions League final, so I was expecting them to be doing better,” admits Anthony.
“But I’m sure they will manage to bounce back and climb up the table. I have no doubts that they will because they have a good side with some great players.”
Read the full interview with Anthony Martial by ordering a copy of United Review.
Back to Top