Van Gaal: Martial Can Play In 4 Positions

Louis van Gaal believes teenage forward Anthony Martial is capable of playing in four different attacking positions for Manchester United.

In his fledgling Reds career so far, Frenchman Martial has predominantly played as a striker or, more recently, in a wide left role as part of a three-pronged forward line.

Asked by reporters where he felt the 19-year-old was more effective, van Gaal said: “I don’t think I have said in one press conference that Anthony Martial is better left or in the striker’s position. I can never say that because I am always thinking of the team benefit and not of the benefit of one player.

“I have said that I always have to make decisions dependable on the game plan, dependable on the opponent and their weaknesses and so on. It’s not that I have said he is best in the left-winger position.

“He can play in three positions in his eyes and that is left, striker and no.10. He doesn't want to play at no.7 [wide right] but I am fully convinced that he can do that also. But that’s another story.

“What is his best position? I think that his best position maybe is the striker’s position. But he has to develop himself still. He is very young. But I think it is better to develop him in the striker’s position than in the left winger’s position.”

Martial continues to earn plaudits for the way he has adapted to English football, with Michael Carrick the latest to praise the summer signing from Monaco.

“I've been hugely impressed,” the midfielder said. “It's a big step to come to this club to play with the expectations and the standards that have been set. With that comes the responsibility and for a young lad to come over to a new country and a new culture – he doesn't speak an awful lot of the language – the start that he's had is incredible really.

“We just have to be careful and not expect too much from him. It is early days and he is going to have ups and downs because that's the nature of how it goes. The signs are obviously very positive – we've all seen that. When he's on the pitch, he looks a lot older than his age. So there are great signs for the future for him and for the club.”

Van Gaal echoed Carrick’s warning that fans must not get carried away by Martial’s impressive start. Team-mate Memphis has suffered a slight dip in form in recent weeks and the boss says that’s inevitable for young players.

“I have said that Memphis is the greatest talent of his age but he is also only 21,” van Gaal said. “That is an age when you cannot expect consistency. And he has to adapt to many things. I expected this. We have to give him time.

“We have to give Anthony Martial time when he is a bit lower. Maybe Anthony will continue scoring goals and winning matches, but I expect he will also have a dip in form.”