MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho has laid down the law to Anthony Martial after leaving the Manchester United forward out of Sunday’s win over Chelsea.
Mourinho has advised Martial to follow the example of United teammate Marcus Rashford, who battled back from a run of inconsistent performances to score a crucial goal in last weekend’s 2-0 victory against the Premier League leaders.
Martial, 21, cost United £35 million in 2015, with the fee to rise to a potential £56 million based on incentive clauses.
But, despite flashes of brilliance, Martial has yet to hit consistent form and Mourinho is clearly losing patience, leaving him out of his squad altogether on Sunday.
“I know we are together for almost 10 months now. The same way I know the players much better now and the players should know me also much better now,” Mourinho told reporters on Wednesday.
“That’s why Marcus Rashford, even without being since September with a goal in the Premier League, even without that, he was always a player that I trust, always a player that I play, always a player that I support.
“Because he was always coming in my direction, in the direction I want from a player, what I want as a Manchester United player.
“He’s about that. It’s about getting to know each other better and better and better and going in the direction of things we like.
“Do I think Anthony is a player with great potential? Yes I think. Do I think he can play successfully for me? Yes I think. But he needs to give me things that I like very much.”