Anthony Martial 'begged' to start the Manchester derby despite injury
Erik ten Hag reveals Anthony Martial ‘begged’ to start the Manchester derby despite an injury issue and not training, before coming off at half-time, with the forward now a doubt for Manchester United’s trip to Crystal Palace tomorrow
- Anthony Martial started the Manchester derby but was withdrawn at half-time
- Man United boss Erik ten Hag said Martial had begged him to start the match
- Martial has had an increasing role under the Dutch coach in recent matches
- Loan signing Wout Weghorst could start tomorrow due to Martial’s fitness issues
Erik ten Hag has revealed Anthony Martial begged to start the Manchester derby despite suffering an injury problem which had prevented him from training in the build-up to the match.
Martial started up front for United against Manchester City, but the Frenchman was withdrawn at half-time.
The hosts fell behind to Jack Grealish’s goal on the hour mark, before late strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford gave Ten Hag’s side a memorable 2-1 victory.
Erik ten Hag revealed Anthony Martial ‘begged’ to play in the Manchester derby on Saturday
United will go in pursuit of a sixth successive Premier League win tomorrow against Crystal Palace, but Martial is a doubt for the game with the forward still nursing a problem.
United boss Ten Hag admitted Martial had begged to start the derby, with 27-year-old’s ability to press seen as vital despite his lack of training in the build-up to the fixture.
‘I hoped to avoid him getting injured, but he was complaining,’ Ten Hag said.
Martial was chosen to start because of his pressing ability but was withdrawn at half-time
‘That’s why he also didn’t train in the week and was a question mark [for the derby].
‘We decided and he decided as well to start, he begged to start.
‘I knew the start would be so important in this game and he is really good at pressing and he is a really big element in our pressing.
‘But I needed to re-evaluate at half-time as you saw he was not capable of 100% and this is what you need. And also to avoid him getting injured.
‘We took him off, but it also had a negative impact on our game after half-time.’
Doubts over Martial’s fitness could lead to Wout Weghorst starting against Crystal Palace
Martial has started United’s last five Premier League matches, marking a revival in the forward’s Old Trafford career, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla.
Despite scoring only three league goals in his nine Premier League appearances this campaign, Martial has had an increasing role with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving him as the only recognised centre forward.
Doubts over Martial’s fitness could lead to new loan signing Wout Weghorst being handed a start against Palace.
United travel to Selhurst Park seeking a 10th consecutive win in all competitions, knowing a victory would move them second in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Arsenal.
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