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Rob DawsonCorrespondent
MANCHESTER, England – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will tell you that Manchester United haven’t been in their best form this season, and one of the reasons is Anthony Martial. It bodes well, then, that on the first day of a year that could generate a first post-Sir Alex Ferguson title challenge, it was the Frenchman who scored the first goal as United beat Aston Villa 2- 1 at Old Trafford. .
Solskjaer needed another penalty from Bruno Fernandes, three good saves from David De Gea, an impressive performance from Paul Pogba and a heroic block from Eric Bailly in the fifth minute of injury time to get over the line, but his team is now tied on points. with Liverpool at the top of the table after 16 games. At the very least, United has given itself a shot at the No. 21 title in 2021.
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Martial’s goal, just before the break, was only his second in the Premier League this season, having waited until December to score his first. He averaged one every two games after Project Restart last season to help United finish third and secure a return to the Champions League, and if he can find that kind of shape between now and May, Solskjaer won’t be able to rule out questions about a charge. of the title for much longer.
When a journalist started a question at the post-match press conference with, “You are probably not going to talk about the title,” Solskjaer was quick to reply simply, “You’re right.”
The Norwegian is not the type to highlight players at press conferences, but Martial has been the subject of a gentle push more than once. Solskjaer said he has “talked to him” about his career statistics during games and last season in particular urged Martial to score more “forward goals” of the kind he used to get when he was a player at Old Trafford.
Martial’s goal here, his fifth in all competitions this season, was exactly in that mold, crossing the front post to find space between center-backs Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa to head off a low cross by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It was a goal that Solskjaer, Ruud van Nistelrooy or Dwight Yorke would have been proud and important of, too, against a team that came to Old Trafford with more clean sheets than any other team in the league.
“I love dive headers,” Solskjaer said afterward. “Anthony will get better and better. He’s had chances this season, he’s still getting them, but he’s had no luck. Tonight we saw a better version of Anthony, a more confident one.”
It has been a difficult start to the season for Martial after receiving a three-game penalty for his red card in a 6-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in October and suffering a groin injury in December. Back in shape, he is slowly finding his shooting boots with three goals in his last six games after scoring only twice in his previous 19 appearances with the club and the country. If they can get close to the 17 league goals they scored last season, United should run Liverpool close.
“We’ve had some talks and we’ve talked about last season and how important it was then and will be now,” Solskjaer said. “Good players know that form is temporary, but he has shown his class and will get better and better.”
It also helps when your key playmaker contributes every time you play. Fernandes’ second-half penalty, after Bertrand Traore’s draw, was the Portuguese midfielder’s 19th goal in his 30 Premier League games since arriving from Sporting Lisbon. No team has earned more points since Fernandes’ debut on February 1, 2020.
Since losing to Arsenal on November 1, United have been undefeated for 10 games, winning eight and drawing two for 26 points from the last 30 available. The trip to Liverpool on January 17 already looks like one of the biggest league games United have been involved in since Ferguson retired in 2013.
“I am very happy with the position we are in, such a big difference from 12 months ago,” Solskjaer said. “You can lose the opportunity to be in the title race in the first 10 games. It’s a good position to be in, but we have to improve. If you can win games like tonight, it will make a big difference.”
Solskjaer is not yet ready to acknowledge that United appears to be Liverpool’s obstacle to reclaiming the Premier League trophy, and the game at Anfield in just over two weeks will go a long way in deciding whether their challenge is fleeting or firmer. . For now, however, United are at their highest on New Years Day since Ferguson’s last season, and Solskjaer insists there is more to come, particularly from Martial.
