Video: “Couldn’t believe Ten Hag did this vs Newcastle” – One Man Utd and Erik Ten Hag involved in furious row as Man Utd tension boils over
Anthony Martial’s lackluster performance in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday was further marred by a heated exchange with manager Erik ten Hag.
Despite scoring and providing an assist in the recent 3-0 win against Everton, Martial struggled to make an impact against Newcastle.
Tensions rose as Ten Hag reprimanded the French striker midway through the first half, with the heated exchange escalating just before halftime.
The disagreement erupted over Martial’s failure to track Newcastle defender Fabian Schar, leading to an opportunity for Kieran Trippier and ultimately resulting in a shot from Miguel Almiron.
Despite the on-field clash, Martial remained on the pitch until after Anthony Gordon scored just before the hour mark, marking the only goal of the game and ending United’s three consecutive league wins.
The publicized row with Ten Hag is unlikely to improve Martial’s chances of securing a new contract at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old’s existing deal expires at the end of the season, with the option of a further 12 months, believed to be in favor of the club, not the player.
Since joining United from Monaco in 2015 for an initial £36 million, Martial’s tenure has been marked by inconsistency. While he enjoyed a promising first season, scoring on his debut against Liverpool and winning the FA Cup, his career stalled afterward.
Despite a standout 2019-20 season with 23 goals, Martial’s goal-scoring prowess has dwindled, and a loan spell at Sevilla in the second half of the 2021-22 campaign yielded no goals in La Liga.
Critics, including Gary Neville, have been vocal about Martial’s underwhelming goal tally of 90 during his time at United, with Neville describing the club’s recruitment failings as “absolutely incredible.”
Andy Cole raised doubts about Martial’s ability to lead the line for a club like Manchester United, emphasizing the need for more goals to meet the club’s expectations.
