Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists Anthony Martial's 'professional level has improved'
- Anthony Martial's club future has been in doubt since Jose Morinho took over
- The young Frenchman considered a loan move to Sevilla in January window
- He was wanted by Inter Milan when Man United were keen to sign Ivan Perisic
- Martial accepts that he will get enough first-team opportunities this season
- He has come off the bench in first two Premier League games to score twice
Jose Mourinho believes Anthony Martial’s attitude has improved following talks with the Manchester United winger over the summer.
Martial’s future has been in some doubt since Mourinho took over at Old Trafford last year. The young Frenchman considered a loan move to Sevilla in January and was wanted by Inter Milan when United held talks with the Italians over signing Ivan Perisic in recent months.
Mourinho has been critical of the former Monaco man at times, but believes that Martial is more settled after the two men held positive discussions about his future. The 21-year-old accepts that he will get enough first-team opportunities this season, and has come off the bench in United’s first two games of the season to score against West Ham and Swansea.
Anthony Martial has scored twice for Manchester United in their first two league matches
‘We’re using him well and he’s coming with the right attitude,’ said the United boss. ‘We had a conversation about the future he has here. Of course he wants to play, of course he wants to start, of course he wants to be selected for the national team, of course he wants to go to the World Cup, so that’s good.
‘And for me it’s simple. I can't play Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup with 11 players, I need a squad.
‘I think he has a good connection on the pitch with Paul (Pogba), with Romelu (Lukaku). I think he’s growing in confidence and, of course, two periods of 20 minutes and he’s scored two goals, so for his confidence it’s good.’
Jose Mourinho has brought Martial off the bench in United's opening two league games
Mourinho believes that Martial has also benefitted from being surrounded by more French speakers after Pogba and Lukaku joined Marouane Fellaini at Old Trafford in the past 12 months.
He added: ‘He’s working really well. Maybe that French language little group we have – Fellaini, Paul, Lukaku – is a group where he’s very well integrated now and they bring him up.
‘His professional level has improved, he’s working much, much better, so we are happy. We have lots of hopes with him and obviously he has to be happy now, and he can only improve.’
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