Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Anthony Martial: Man Utd star sent strong message by Rio Ferdinand after Juventus start
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand has explained how Anthony Martial can get even better at Old Trafford.
Man United: Jose Mourinho praises Martial after Everton win
Martial has hit a purple patch of form in front of goal for Manchester United.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash away at Juventus, the Frenchman had scored five goals in his previous four Premier League outings.
He had started all those matches and was rewarded with a place on the team sheet for the trip to Turin.
Ferdinand claims Martial, who joined from Monaco for a fee that could rise to £57.6million in 2015, has failed to live up to his early promise at United.
Get in and around the box, make defenders have to make decisions and make tackles
But the BT Sport pundit says Martial needs love and support from his manager Jose Mourinho.
And Ferdinand reckons the winger must remain further forward to cause more problems for opposition defences.
“When he first came on the scene for Manchester United you thought: ‘Wow, a lot of money has been spent, £50m-odd, what a player, justified it immediately’,” Ferdinand said of Martial.
“And then he went off the boil.
“I think he’s a player who needs love, he’s someone to put their arm around him and say: ‘You’re important, there’s an importance for you in this team’.
“Give him that responsibility and he’s come in, five goals in four games he’s got.
“Some of his finishing has been exquisite.
“I just think he needs to be in the box as often as possible.
“Far too often we see him collecting the ball too deep and then he’s got a long way to get to goal.
“Get in and around the box, make defenders have to make decisions and make tackles.
“I think the way he can beat people he’s up there with the best of them in the Premier League.”