Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has heaped praise on Anthony Martial following his goal against Crystal Palace.
United were in EFL Cup action on Tuesday night as Palace visited Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag saw his side dominate proceedings as goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro put United 2-0 up.
Anthony Martial added number three after the break, handing United a passage into the fourth round of the competition.
Erik ten Hag praises Anthony Martial
Martial started up top for United, his first start since before the international break.
The Frenchman took his chance, firing home from a tight angle having been picked out by Casemiro’s cross.
Martial showed fine technique to guide a bouncing ball into the net, wrapping up United’s win in the process.
Ten Hag has now told United’s official website that he felt Martial’s finish was ‘brilliant’.
Ten Hag added that Martial finding the net was ‘very good’ because it can give him real confidence moving forward.
“[It was a] a brilliant finish and very good that also he gets his goal, that’s important [and] will give him confidence. So, very happy and pleased with this performance as well.”
Ten Hag has been publicly backing Martial this season
We all know that Martial has real talent but showing it consistently has been something of a problem.
Whether it’s down to form or fitness, Martial has only shown his quality in fits and starts in recent times.
That’s why United ended up splashing the cash on a new striker this summer by signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta.
Hojlund looks set to nail down a role as United’s first-choice striker this season but Ten Hag has been publicly backing Martial this season.
Ten Hag praised Martial for a ‘very good performance’ against Arsenal despite fans largely disagreeing.
Ten Hag then predicted a big impact from Martial this season once he was up to speed fitness-wise, defending his decision to substitute Hojlund for the Frenchman against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ten Hag may well believe that repeated praise is the way to bring some confidence back into Martial’s game.
Whether that is enough to start against Palace this weekend remains to be seen, with Hojlund likely to get the nod over Martial as things stand.
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