Anthony Martial has revealed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has asked him to take responsibility for more of Manchester United’s goals this season.
The Frenchman has been handed the number nine shirt that was taken off him two years ago by Jose Mourinho following the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan.
And Solskjaer appears ready to play Martial in the centre forward role after he was shunted out to the left-hand side under the Portuguese tactician – a role he seemed to enjoy.
The 23-year-old is into his fifth season at Old Trafford but his most prolific campaign in the Premier League remains his first when, under Louis van Gaal, he hit three goals in his first two appearances – including a memorable solo effort against Liverpool on his debut.
Martial opened his account for 2019-20 in unfamiliar fashion as he got in close to convert Andreas Pereira’s cross to cap a fast counter-attack and put United 2-0 up against Chelsea last week.
The ex-Monaco starlet has not scored enough scruffy goals during his time in Manchester, specialising instead in more memorable efforts, but arch-predator Solskjaer’s words to Martial may already have paid off.
“Now that I’ve taken the number nine shirt back once again, all he (Solskjaer) has said to me is that I have a lot of responsibility and that I have to score goals, so that’s what I’m trying to do,” he told the United App.
Anthony Martial:
Since I was a young kid, I have always played as a striker. It’s a real pleasure to find myself back in that more central role so I hope I can really help the team from there and go on to score plenty of goals.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/aW6PGcso6H
— Man United Broadcast (@Rio_F79) August 17, 2019
Martial is likely to fill the central berth again when United travel to Molineux looking for a better result than the two dismal 2-1 defeats they suffered in league and cup there last season.
Marcus Rashford is Solskjaer’s other senior forward option but he is likely to start on the left-hand side with more defensive duties than Martial.
“It’s a real pleasure to find myself back in that more central role so I hope I can really help the team from there and go on to score plenty of goals,” he added.
