Martial: Goals no consolation for defeat
Anthony Martial admits he was pleased to get back into action and open his account for the season but the Manchester United striker would obviously have preferred to be on the winning side in the derby.
The no.9's return from injury was one positive from a disappointing afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, as his two goals helped produce a final scoreline of 6-3 to the Blues.
With so many games on the horizon before the break for the World Cup, all United fans will be relieved to see Martial instantly back in the groove, particularly after he also performed well in his other competitive outing this term, the 2-1 victory over Liverpool in August.
Martial’s brace against City
Anthony Martial scored twice off the bench on his return from injury, during Sunday’s Manchester derby…
"For sure, I would have preferred not to score and win this game," he told Canal+ afterwards. "But it's always good to come back on the grass and score.
"We are really frustrated. That's not what we wanted to do but this result is the one [that happened] and we are going to give everything to come back for the next game.
"We started the game really badly and then they were really efficient with the chances they had. It's really complicated but it's like that and we are going to do everything to be ready for the next match [on Thursday against Omonia Nicosia]."
"I feel very good but, unfortunately, I was injured and could not play a lot of games this year," he added.
And, when asked if this performance can help launch his 2022/23 from an individual point of view, Martial replied: "For sure, I've got my own goals."
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In a separate interview with club media recently, the France international stressed how desperate he is to get back in the side, with the next fixture on the schedule our trip to Cyprus in the Europa League, before the Sunday night clash at Everton in the Premier League.
"I'm doing everything the best I possibly can to recover so I can come back ready and physically match fit in order to help out the team," he told us towards the end of last month.
"The Liverpool game, for sure, was one of those games in which I really wanted to play, if I possibly could at all, and that's why I came on at half-time.
"It's always very special playing in those kind of games and that's why I am going all out to come back and, above all, be fully match fit, so I can be out there and helping the team."