Anthony Martial gave one of his most impressive performances to date in his first club game at Wembley and provided the winning goal that took Manchester United past Everton to the FA Cup final, but Louis van Gaal insists the French player is a winger rather than a striker who will end up with goalscoring records.
“I like him on the wing, I don’t believe he is an out-and-out goalscorer like Ruud van Nistelrooy,” the United manager said of a player whose assist from the left wing brought about the first goal in the 2-1 win. “In the future he might change, he certainly has the ability, but at the moment I see him as a wing player.
“He has had an excellent first season in England and he can only get better with age and experience. He can improve further, I can see things in his game that he can work on, but the best way to improve is to play at a higher level and that is what he is doing. Marcus Rashford is the same. He is doing a good job in the striker’s position and it means Wayne Rooney can contribute more from midfield.”
Van Gaal batted away questions about what FA Cup success might do for his future at United, reiterating that he only intended to discuss such matters with his board and it would be up to the club to judge whether winning the trophy would constitute a successful season. “You can also be positive about this semi-final win if you like,” he said sarcastically, before going on to criticise Anthony Taylor’s refereeing.
“We were the better team in the first half, then the referee changed the game in the second,” he said. “I am not talking about the penalty, I had no argument with that, just all the 50-50 duels that were not in our favour and the referee let go.”
David de Gea saved Romelu Lukaku’s penalty, as it happened, one of several possible turning points in the game, though Van Gaal denied that his goalkeeper’s reputation put penalty-takers at a disadvantage. “Only yesterday in training we had a penalty competition and Sergio Romero won,” the Dutchman said. “He saved one penalty, De Gea zero. But then David came up with the save in the important game.”
Roberto Martínez agreed with Van Gaal that United had been the better team in the first half – “We were not at our best, it took us 45 minutes to get going” – but felt losing in the last few seconds of stoppage time was harsh after Everton had done so well to fight their way back into contention.
“That was as cruel as football can get,” the Everton manager said. “The goal was against the run of play at the end, we were growing into the game more the longer it progressed and I thought we would be the stronger side in extra time. We didn’t deserve that after getting back into the game, it left a bad taste.”
Martínez could be left with an even worse one if the club decide to look for a new manager after a disappointing season, though for now he is attempting to pick out the positives. “We have been to two semi-finals this season and been a bit unlucky both times,” he said. “It has not been easy trying to bring silverware back to Goodison, but we are developing each season. I still believe I am the right man to take the club forward.”
Martínez added that he retains ambitions of taking the club into the Champions League. “My ambition is exactly the same as the club’s,” he said. “I share the drive the club has, which is getting into the Champions League and situations where we can win silverware.
“I have a very strong drive and will give everything I have to fulfil those expectations. Every season we are developing and reaching certain signs where I feel we can please our fans and bring the silverware they deserve – but clearly, at moments like this of true disappointment, it is very difficult to see through that.”
