Martial must take his chances or loose his position - Jose Mourinho Says

 

Jose Mourinho says Anthony Martial must make the most of his Manchester United chances or risk a team-mate taking the meat. The France star has struggled to live up to a fine first season in England, scoring just twice in 13 appearances since Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal.

Martial was left out of the squad for Thursday's Europa League win over Feyenoord five days after starting the Premier League draw with Arsenal and Mourinho says the competition for places among his wide forwards - intensified by Henrikh Mkhitaryan's impressive midweek return - means no one is guaranteed a place.

He said “The way the team played last season was probably more adapted to Anthony. Probably he was feeling more comfortable playing that way, at that intensity, at that rhythm of the ball possession and ball circulation. So probably he needs also some time. But in our squad, for these positions, we have Mkhitaryan, Jesse Lingard, Memphis Depay, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Martial. These are probably the positions where we have more options.  And, you have one opportunity, you have two, you have three - if you don't bite, then somebody comes and takes the meat. They are friends, they are colleagues, they work together every day, but in the end they compete between themselves to have more chances to play.”

United go into Sunday afternoon's Premier League game at home to West Ham on the back of three successive home draws in the league, a run which has contributed to a nine-point deficit on leaders Chelsea.