Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given his verdict on Anthony Martial’s stunning hat-trick against Sheffield United.
This was Martial’s first ever hat-trick, and Manchester United’s first since 2013.
Solskjaer has been a big believer in Martial’s ability and this was vindication of his faith in the striker.
Martial’s finishing was ruthless, with three goals from four attempts.
But it was an often unrecognised part of Martial’s game which drew particular praise from his manager after the game, with Solskjaer praising Martial’s work rate and his pressing.
He told the club’s official website: “I’m very pleased with Anthony’s development and he knows that we want him to do well and we work with him and the forwards all the time on finishing.
“Today, he got the rewards for the hard work he’s put in. His pressing goes unnoticed. I think, today, he was exceptional and, at Tottenham, the pressing he showed from the front was really good, so I’m very happy.
“The first goal was a vital one today and the way he turns and gets himself into a position to score from Marcus’s cross, I was very pleased with that one. Now he’s getting more and more into these positions.”
Martial is up to 19 goals for United this season, with 14 in the Premier League.
In fact no player has more Premier League goals than Martial does in 2020, with seven to his name so far.
He is level with Marcus Rashford, who is also on 19 total and 14 league goals, and this could turn into a competition between the pair which works out to United’s benefit.
Martial almost laid one on for Rashford too, only for his teammate to miss.
United now have a decision to make, whether to rest Martial and bring in Odion Ighalo for the Norwich fixture on Saturday night, or keep picking him while he is in hot form and full of confidence.
It is one of many positive dilemmas for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to have.
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