115 minutes, three goals.
The boy done good.
Anthony Martial has gone from ‘who’ to ‘woo-who’ in the stands of Old Trafford. (Christ, sorry…)
But the club’s new French striker has been expedited into hero status at Manchester United after a string of impressive performances – and goals.
The attacker rose to prominence with a fine, fine goal on his debut against none other than Liverpool and then he only went and bagged a brace of delightful finishes on his full league debut away to Southampton.
Now, the supporters can’t get enough of a man Louis van Gaal was criticised for paying way over the odds for.
And it seems that a certain club legend is quite content with the forward’s performances at the moment too.
Anthony Martial cost United an initial fee of £36m which is supposed to keep rising to God knows what – well, we do know what, £58m.
But Alex Ferguson doesn’t think United were sold a pup and he doesn’t believed that they were overcharged either. Asked in yet another press conference for his new book, Leading, the former manager laughed off suggestions that the club paid too much for Martial.
“Ridiculous? Not at the moment it’s not!”
And it seems that Fergie isn’t the only one Martial has won over.
Another legend of the club, England assistant manager and pundit extraordinaire, Gary Neville, is becoming convinced by the talent of the player he once raised an eye brow over.
“I wouldn’t have imagined he would have the composure he’s had,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“If you look at his goal-scoring record before he came to Manchester United – I think it was 15 goals in 70 games – it doesn’t suggest he’s got that level of composure.
“There was a huge pressure put on him and he’ll be aware of that, the expectation and the price tag.
“It’s a brilliant start. It’s too early to say ‘he’s some player and he’s going to be a great player’ and all those things because anything can happen, but it’s certainly the best possible start he could have had. He’s made a big impression on all of us.”
