Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has revealed why Anthony Martial was left out of the squad to face Feyenoord.
Martial, 20, started for United against Arsenal at the weekend but didn’t even make it onto the substitutes bench for Thursday night’s match at Old Trafford.
Mourinho confirmed Martial is not injured but suggested the Frenchman needs to do more to prove he is worthy of a regular place in the team.
Speaking after his side’s emphatic 4-0 win – United’s biggest since Mourinho took over – the Portuguese said: “He was okay for this game, it was just an option.
“He played last Sunday, I cannot play with 12 players, I cannot use on the bench 19 or 20.
“You wanted to see Mkhitaryan, I wanted too. I cannot play all of them at the same time so it was just an option.
“Players have to win their positions. They are friends, they are colleagues, they work together every day, but at the end they compete between themselves to have more chances to play.
“Anthony played against Arsenal; this was the moment to give a chance to Mkhitaryan to start.”
COMMENTS