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Gary Neville backs Jose Mourinho over 'disinterested' Manchester United star
GARY NEVILLE has backed Jose Mourinho after the Manchester United boss issued a warning to the underperforming Anthony Martial.
Phil Neville on Anthony Martial: "He needs to ring his agent"
The France international enjoyed an impressive debut season for United after signing from Monaco in 2015.
But this campaign has been much more of a struggle with just six goals in 20 games and he was not included in the squad which draw 1-1 with Stoke on Saturday.
Responding to a quote from Mourinho where the United manager said Martial was failing to take the opportunities given to him, Neville tweeted: “He's only achieving a very small part of his potential. He ranges from sensational to disinterested.
“Let's hope he gets going now!"
Anthony Martial has had a disappointing season
Ahead of tonight’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg with Hull, Mourinho made clear his thoughts on Martial’s situation.
“I don’t think he lost his focus,” he said.
He's only achieving a very small part of his potential. He ranges from sensational to disinterested . Let's hope he gets going now! https://t.co/fORTYlAx2Z
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 26, 2017
“I just think he didn’t catch with both hands a big opportunity he had. When we spoke about Memphis Depay [leaving United] we spoke about it being the only position where we have an over-booking of players.
“We have still five players for this position. I cannot give one player chances to play and kill the others.
Jose Mourinho wants an improvement from Anthony Martial
“To kill the others, I think I already did that with Memphis by considering him the last option and by not giving him any option. But with the other guys I think you would be asking me why Mata is not playing or why Marcus Rashford doesn’t have a chance, or why Jesse Lingard, a national team player, is not playing.
“We have Rashford, Lingard, Mata, Mkhitaryan and Martial, and I cannot give the same player chance after chance after chance and not consider the effort of the others.
“Anthony played against Liverpool, a big match for us and a big match for him, too. Then the next game I went to Mata and Mkhitaryan. This is the situation.”
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