Anthony Martial opens up about relationship with Man United boss Jose Mourinho
The Manchester United striker accepts Jose Mourinho's tough love is for the France striker's benefit
Anthony Martial insists he has no problems with Jose Mourinho’s tough approach to the managing the Manchester United striker.
The Red Devils forward has struggled with consistency since Mourinho took over the reins from Louis van Gaal in May 2016.
Manchester United signed Martial in a £36m deal in the 2015 summer transfer window and he scored 17 times in 49 games in his first season at Old Trafford.
Martial has only managed to net 14 goals in 58 appearances under Mourinho as the Red Devils boss continues to use the French forward sparingly over the past 18 months or so.
The 21-year-old was linked with a potential move to Serie A in the summer amid talk of Inter Milan and AS Roma, while Tottenham Hotspur were thought to be interested in signing Martial.
But the Manchester United striker remained at Old Trafford and Martial has scored six goals and made four assists in 16 appearances in all competitions in the 2017-18 season.
Martial opened up about his working relationship with Mourinho ahead of their home clash against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
“He’s hard with all of us and he is hard with me, there is no question,” Martial told the Premier League.
”But I know that it’s for my benefit. But I also know that he really likes me as a person, so there’s no issue about the discipline being for the wrong reasons.
“But the objective, of course, is to have all of us in good condition, and being fit to play every match and that is what I’m hoping to do.
“At the beginning we didn’t know each other too well, but over time we have got to know each other better.
“He knows my strengths and my weaknesses, such as they are, but the outcome is that we are learning to give everything in the right way.”
Manchester United won the Europa League and the League Cup in their first season under Mourinho.
The Red Devils are in second place in the Premier League table.
