Bastian Schweinsteiger believes Anthony Martial can become one of Manchester United’s best players with the right guidance.
Despite suffering with injuries throughout the season, Martial has four goals to his name as well as two assists. It is no secret that Erik ten Hag would have played him more often (ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo) had he been available for selection.
However, Martial did not play enough football to warrant a place in the France squad for the World Cup. We all have our fingers crossed that he has better luck for the second half of the season, especially after Ronaldo’s exit.
On a positive note, Martial spent the past month at Carrington training complex working on his fitness.
Bayern Munich legend Schweinsteiger played with Martial at United and he is confident the 27-year-old can shine under Ten Hag.
“His potential is immense,” Schweinsteiger told MUTV. “I remember very well when he arrived at United, and he scored the goal against Liverpool in a special way.
“With him, you need to give him confidence. But you also need to push him sometimes, and then he can be one of the best players.
“But he has to understand that first, and that’s the job of the coaches and also the team-mates.
“If you play with someone like him, you want to see the quality of this player all the time. You expect it because you know what this player is able to do.
“When I played with him, my goal was always to put him in the right position with the ball. So, to give him the ball in the right moments where he can show his abilities the most.
“Like one against one, one against two, with the ball, facing the opponents’ goal.
“They are the moments he [is] waiting for, and then he’s actually producing. At the end of the day, what matters for him is goals and assists.”
Unless Martial suffers another setback in the next week, he is likely to start against Burnley in the League Cup next Wednesday. Ten Hag will be without serval players due to the World Cup, including finalists Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
