They might be in an FA Cup final, but it’s not been a vintage year for Manchester United.
With Manchester City doing their best to present United with a place in the top four for most of the second half of the season, Louis van Gaal’s men have repeatedly blown chance after chance to go ahead of their neighbours – eventually finishing fifth.
But as grim as things have been at Old Trafford this year, Anthony Martial’s emergence has been one bright point.
Having arrived as a relatively unknown (but very expensive) summer deadline signing from Monaco last summer, Martial instantly made an impact in Manchester, scoring on his debut against Liverpool.
United legend and fellow Frenchman Eric Cantona has also been impressed with Martial’s debut season at his former club. Speaking to MUTV, Cantona has compared Martial to Ronaldo…. No, not that one: the Brazilian one.
“He’s very mature for his age. I think he’s the same kind of player as Ronaldo,” Cantona said.
“Of course Ronaldo is a Brazilian, but he’s as strong as him. Martial is skilful, he wants to score goals and he has good vision.
“At Manchester it’s a great club for young players when you are in the Academy and also when you are 18/19/20 years old. [At that age] you need to go and play for a great team and also you need to work with people who will help you because you’re still a young player, just as Ronaldo, the Portuguese Ronaldo, did when he came to play for United and for Ferguson.
“He had the opportunity to win trophies but also Ferguson helped him to be the player he is today. And I think he [Martial] has been very clever to choose Manchester United.”
Perhaps Eric didn’t hear that Sir Alex called it a day a few years back?
