08 September 2023 , 11:03
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been warned he faces a tactical dilemma, with Anthony Martial's behaviour becoming a concern.
Ten Hag has overseen a mixed start to the season, with his side sitting a lowly 11th in the Premier League table. At the heart of their problems has been a struggle to score goals, with United hitting the back of the net just five times in their four games so far.
Martial has started the final two of those matches but remains without a goal. The Frenchman is set to lose his place to summer signing Rasmus Hojlund once the Premier League returns from the international break.
That move would be welcomed by former Premier League boss Martin O'Neill, who has been scathing in his criticism of the striker. The Irishman has been left fuming with Martial's attitude, insisting all he does is "mope and moan".
"Harry Maguire will feel he's as good as any of those defenders in that side. It might not be what Ten Hag has got planned, but you're looking at the squad at the moment, and you're looking at the style of play," O'Neill exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone.
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"You just don't feel as though, first and foremost, they're going to score bags of goals. For all of the talented players they've got going forward, you're not confident in them at the moment. Anthony Martial's demeanour would probably irritate you if you're a manager.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Rasmus Hojlund replace Anthony Martial as Manchester United's first-choice striker? Comment below.
Anthony Martial is facing fresh criticism for his performances (Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)"He just seems to mope and moan. He doesn't do enough, he complains when he's coming off - but you just think 'You're playing for Manchester United; you've got to be doing more!' We're not talking about an ordinary Premier League side here. It's Manchester United. You've got to be better."
While O'Neill has been critical of Martial, Ten Hag has continued to back the much-maligned attacker. The Dutchman insisted he was happy with Martial's display in the defeat to Arsenal, though hinted he will face competition from Hojlund.
“I think he [Rasmus] played very good. But also I think Anthony Martial's was a very good performance, so I was pleased and definitely, I think Rasmus Hojlund had [a] very good impact on the game,” Ten Hag said.
“I think the performance is right from us. I think we played [a] very good game. But everything went against us and then, of course, you don't win the game and if [we had] a little bit more luck, you win the game."
That praise was not endorsed by United legend Roy Keane though, who was disappointed with Martial's performance. The Irishman insisted that the Frenchman didn't "have a kick" against the Arsenal defence.
"I think the manager will be pleased with the performance, but if you look at the bigger picture, there's massive problems at the club. You look at the defence at the end of the game, I know there's injuries," he told Sky Sports.
"We look at the new striker comes on today, Hojlund. You look at Martial, the manager praised him, but I don't think he got a kick, he didn't do too much. So there's still those problems for United."