Martial: My debut goal is still my most important

Martial announced himself to the Old Trafford faithful in some style, by scoring a brilliant goal in front of the Stretford End to seal victory against Liverpool.

During an in-depth interview that will appear in Saturday's editin of United Review, the Frenchman explains the memory remains at the forefront of his mind.

"That was a very big game, both for me and the team. I think it’s my most important goal so far. It’s the goal that really announced my arrival and the goal that gave me that strength to be able to establish myself at United from the word go.”

In his first season with United, Martial was the club's top goal scorer after bagging 17 goals in all competitions, as well as winning the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for September 2015.  A less impressive campaign followed in 2016/17, scoring just four times in the league, however this term has neem much improved and the forward has netted 11 goals so far.

“I’ve had a decent season up to now, but it’s all about me now keeping that going and trying to do even better," Anthony admits in the matchday programme. "I think that I did well in January and February. I’ve featured slightly less recently but I still feel really good in myself and I’m ready for action.”

Having watched United v Liverpool on French TV prior to his move from AS Monaco, Martial was already aware of the great prestige behind this fixture and what a derby day victory means to the fans.

“In France, we always knew that United against Liverpool was a big derby game," he says. "United v Liverpool is really the game where there is that extra edge and that extra tension and usually lots of goals too.”

Going into this weekend’s fixture, United and Liverpool are essentially vying for second place in the Premier League with the title seemingly out of reach, and Martial realises how tough the fixture is going to be.

“Liverpool are in great form right now, they’ve got excellent forwards who are really in the goals. But what we have to do is keep a close eye on them and to then play our own game, because we can cause problems for any team.

“Without a doubt, a win would be big for us. And what’s more, we’re at Old Trafford so all our fans will be driving us on, so if we can win, it will be a nice celebration.”

THE STORY BEHIND THE COVER

United Review editor Paul Davies

“How do you mark the 200th game against our biggest rivals? That was the question we posed ourselves at United Review in the weeks leading up to this milestone meeting of England’s most successful clubs. A number of ideas were thrown around (and thrown out!) before deciding upon this one, chosen as we wanted something reflecting the longevity of this most notable of fixtures. 

“It is 124 years since United and Liverpool first met in competitive action, in a ‘Test Match’ at Ewood Park – a relegation/promotion play-off for a place in the next season’s First Division. As such, our cover is a throwback to the Victorian era theatre posters that were so common on the streets of England’s big cities at that time, with numerous sizes and styles of lettering crammed on to the page. 

“Sir Bobby Charlton described Old Trafford as the Theatre of Dreams, so where better for this 200th instalment of this long-running drama that is played out in the north-west of England but watched by hundreds of millions around the world. It’s different, and won’t be to everyone’s taste, but we feel it gives a due nod to the humble beginnings of one of the game’s fiercest, enduring rivalries.”

Read the full interview with Anthony Martial in Saturday'sUnited Review, available from Old Trafford and online via ManUtd.com/programme.