Erik ten Hag Defends Anthony Martial After Manchester United Defeat
Erik ten Hag has come to the defense of Anthony Martial after the Manchester United forward was booed off the pitch during their surprising 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Frenchman was given a starting spot after being benched in their impressive victory over Chelsea, but Martial delivered a lackluster performance, managing just one shot on goal and the fewest touches of any starter.
Martial was substituted in the 55th minute, with the crowd booing him as he left the field. However, Ten Hag believes that the entire team struggled against Bournemouth and it is unfair to single out Martial.
Ten Hag’s Defense of Martial
Ten Hag defended Martial’s abilities, pointing out his strong performance against Everton two weeks ago. He emphasized that the team as a whole failed and needs to improve collectively.
Ten Hag reflected on the defeat and acknowledged the team’s lack of consistency. He stressed the need for improvement and a stronger start to matches, especially against teams with strong transition play like Bournemouth.
Looking ahead, Manchester United will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League and then travel to Anfield to face Liverpool. However, they will be without captain Bruno Fernandes for the Liverpool match due to suspension.
Ten Hag made it clear that losing the match was the worst outcome, even worse than Fernandes’ yellow card. The team must focus on regrouping and improving for future matches.
Trending
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.