Beyond acceleration and trusting his pace, Anthony Martial also needs to be more intense and run consistently.
That’s what Carl Anka of The Athletic feels Martial is missing right now. The Frenchman needs to diversify his game beyond relying on his acceleration and close ball control, things he excels at.
In Anka’s analysis, he debunks the striker’s claims that his poor form in the past two seasons is solely due to injury as he constantly plays when not fully fit.
In an explosive interview the player gave to France Football, the Frenchman revealed that he had an unspoken injury that severely hampered his ability to fully apply himself on the pitch.
Martial said: “In the last two seasons, I have regularly played injured. People don’t know that. I couldn’t get up to speed for four months after the COVID season. (Ole Gunnar) Solskjaer tells me that he needs me, so I play. Given my game, if I can’t accelerate, it becomes very difficult.”
In a detailed analysis of Anka in which the journalist places United no. 9 in context and plots them on a timeline, it’s clear that injury may not have been the only thing that kept him from playing well.
“If we are to take Martial’s quotes at their most literal, he was unable to accelerate to his top speed until December 16, 2020, four months after the end of the COVID-19-interrupted 2019-20 season, which ended with a 2-1 loss to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.”
Following this, the 26-year-old returned for the Red Devils’ first three games of the 2020/21 season before picking up a red card against Tottenham. He returned soon after, but Solskjaer dropped him early for a series of disappointing displays while playing mainly on the left flank.
“Martial’s four-month injury schedule expired a day before his first Premier League goal of the season, in United’s 3-2 win over Sheffield United.”
“He would pick up two more assists a few days later in a 6-2 win over Leeds United before another loss of form saw him fall behind Edinson Cavani in the centre-forward pecking order, and behind Marcus Rashford and eventually Paul Pogba. for a place in the left wing.”
On Martial’s weaknesses that go beyond his physical shortcomings, Anka says, “Even when he’s 100% fit, Martial often relies on his above-average finishing ability to balance the tougher attacking positions that it is. guilty of assuming.”
the best of martial [under Solskjaer] As a result, the moves became player-specific: when playing through the middle, he would often hold the ball looking to release Rashford outside or make early runs into space whenever Pogba took the ball in central areas.
The France international made fewer runs like this as his time with his favorite players began to dwindle.
Under Ten Hag, in a more structured and choreographed attacking system, it’s no surprise that Martial seems to thrive.
Anka goes on to say, “Even when Martial is fit, he will have to offer more than pace. He will have to make repeated runs without the ball, even if passes from Bruno Fernandes or Christian Eriksen fail to find him. He will need to receive the ball when he is on the move, rather than standing from a standstill.”
“Greater above-the-shoulder game resiliency is needed for him to make the most of his below-the-shoulder talents. For Martial to be the United player he wants to be, he will have to play with the intensity and focus that he hasn’t always been able to find.”
Fans are hoping the attacker can find his place soon and rejoin the team, showing off the devastating form he had shown during pre-season. He is more than capable of it.
United Matchday Magazine: The Ultimate Pre-Match Experience Get ready for aggression and entertainment. United are on a mission to Moldova. And the new issue of Matchday Mag is out now!
Online football content like you’ve never seen before A unique match hub and carefully curated news, features and opinions No ads, no clickbait, no fake news – just 100% pure United Delivered instantly to your device with easy online ordering and secure Click Preview to see more or buy now for just £1.25 / $1.50 Limited Time Offer: SAVE 33% On A Season Pass – Use Discount Code SEASON33 At Checkout.
