Man United’s Solskjaer backs Martial to find form amid ‘tough patch’

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that Anthony Martial is going through “a difficult streak” but has supported him to recover.

Martial has managed just four Premier League goals this season and has not scored in a game that has started since January 1.

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He was left blank in a goalless draw with Real Sociedad on Thursday, but Solskjaer said he was not worried about the forward’s falling form.

“Anthony knows what we want and he’s working really hard to get it right for the team and that’s what I like every day in practice,” Solskjaer said.

“He is not going to sit around and wait for things to happen, he knows that he will have to do it himself and we encourage him and train him and we know that he has this quality and class.”

“Everybody goes through tough times and Anthony is working hard, that’s the main thing.”

Solskjaer is hopeful to have Edinson Cavani available for the trip to Chelsea on Sunday after the Uruguayan international missed the last three games through injury.

Chelsea’s good form under new boss Thomas Tuchel has intensified the race for the top four and while United are second in the table, Solskjaer does not take Champions League qualification for granted.

“I think it will be a long race,” he said. “I don’t think positions are decided early, with this season it is unpredictable, we have seen teams going through bad phases and then a streak and who knows what will happen with injuries and how players react to circumstances. It is the shortest Long, season with lots of games.

“For me, every game is huge and of course Chelsea we know how difficult it will be and how important it will be for us.”

The trip to Stamford Bridge kicks off a hectic period for United with matches against Manchester City and West Ham United before the international break in late March.

“It’s still 38 games for each team, if you get a hit or miss it could impact you as a group and the culture,” added Solskjaer.

“For us, recovering after a couple of setbacks we’ve had and going through now is an important period.

“Our mentality is really good and we are looking forward to these games. We know that Thomas has come in and changed a bit at Chelsea and it is going to be a big challenge for us.”