“I just point to the stats…” – Erik ten Hag finally proven right about ex-Manchester United star, he’s in blistering form

Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United was filled with ups and downs but his team found their best consistency during his first season in charge.

Manchester United finished third in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign and won the Carabao Cup against Newcastle in the final.

Marcus Rashford was the standout performer for Erik ten Hag in that season as he scored 30 goals in all competitions.

However, the team did not exactly have a standout striker throughout, with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the club in November.

Wout Weghorst was brought in on loan but never really showed enough quality, while Anthony Martial was rarely fit enough to make an impact.

Ten Hag desperately wanted Martial to find consistent fitness because the team was better when he was involved.

Once the Frenchman was fit under Ten Hag, he started him in five consecutive Premier League outings over the Christmas period and he also played in all of the final 12 league fixtures of the season.

Ten Hag defended his backing of Martial

Fans and pundits were questioning why the manager still trusted Martial despite his injury issues and the Dutchman explained how the striker improved the team.

“You say I defended him but I just point to the stats, the stats tell you the moment he’s on the pitch, the time he needs for a goal is really less,” said Ten Hag in April 2023.

“When he is in the team, I refer to games against Man City and Liverpool, we play our best football and have the best results as a team. I see how he contributes to this team.”

Eventually, the injuries at United became too much for the Frenchman, who departed at the end of his contract last year and joined Greek side AEK Athens.

Ten Hag proven right amid Martial’s blistering form

Martial has finally been able to do what he was unable to during his final years at Old Trafford – stay fit. He has played a part of every game for his new club since signing for them in October.

With that consistency of games has come a return to goalscoring form, with Martial having seven goals and two assists in just 13 starts so far this season.

Of course, he is playing a lower level of football than he has been used to, but the former Golden Boy talent will be eyeing a return to Europe’s top five leagues if he can keep his fitness.

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In the end, Ten Hag will look at the blistering form of Martial this season and believe that he was right to back him at United.

It didn’t work out, but if the Frenchman did have better luck with injuries earlier, than he could have been an important player for the club once again.

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