Deschamps Praises Martial For Turning Around Form

By Max Wise

France manager Didier Deschamps has praised Manchester United forward Anthony Martial for putting in the needed effort to turn his Old Trafford career around.

Martial was a revelation in his first season at Old Trafford after Louis Van Gaal signed him from AS Monaco in the summer of 2015 but his career took a nosedive following the Dutchman’s departure.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho meant Martial found himself in and out of the team on a consistent basis, and he even missed out on France’s travelling party to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Martial looked set to leave Old Trafford this campaign after he fell out with Mourinho in pre-season but he stayed and has shown flashes of his undoubted quality in the latter days of the Portuguese trainer’s reign as well Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s short time in charge of the club.

"It's always difficult to know what will happen, but all players can have periods when they are less successful on the pitch," Deschamps said at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco.

"It's certainly related to confidence. It can be related to the relationship they have with their coach. It happens every season, for all players.

"Anthony Martial is back playing at a very, very good level. He's often decisive. He had some physical problems too.

"He is a player who was with us at Euro 2016. He wasn't there for the World Cup, but he is one of the players we regularly follow.

"He is a young player who is growing in maturity, because he started very early at Manchester United and with the French team too.

"There are always difficult moments, but in terms of potential, he has everything you need to be at the highest level."

The 23-year-old, who recently signed a new five-year contract, has scored nine goals in 20 Premier League appearances this season.