Manchester United’s French striker Anthony Martial is disappointed about not being unable to nail down a permanent spot in the Manchester United starting lineup this season.
Martial was quoted as saying, “It's annoying to be on the bench, it's truly annoying, but it's a test you have to overcome and that's how you progress.
“It's difficult because all you want is to be able to help the team and when you're on the bench you can't. But these are choices and you have to accept it.”
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Stepping up to Expectations
A move to Manchester United comes without its fair share of expectations and Martial has come to realise how expectations have risen, since his move to Old Trafford. Martial was quoted as saying, “People expect a lot of me, but sometimes they forget I'm still young.”
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that, despite the stiff competition, Martial is determined to fight his way back into contention for a berth in Mourinho’s playing 11. More importantly, this is perhaps what he implied by saying ‘Everyone can think what they want, it won't change anything.’
Also Read: Transfer Rumour: West Ham will demand Anthony Martial should Manchester United sign Dimitri Payet
Despite being one of United’s best players and leading goal scorer last season, opportunities have been hard to come by for the Frenchman this term, following his big money move from Monaco in 2015.
Martial has been in and out of United’s starting lineup this season; after starting in last Sunday’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, he was on the bench for Wednesday’s visit to Crystal Palace.
Having started only 7 of Manchester United’s 16 Premier League games this season, the 21-year-old could perhaps understandably, no longer hold his frustration back as he spoke to French television broadcaster SFR Sport, however, he also claimed that he is up for the challenge of fighting for his spot.
Competition for places at United
Martial’s dip in form this season has also coincided with the summer arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, from PSG and Borussia Dortmund respectively, both of whom have contributed to the Frenchman’s lack of starts this season.
The striker should know that he has only his form to blame for finding himself on the United bench more often than not this season, and that he will have to work incredibly hard to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup.
