Louis Saha has hit back at Paul Scholes’ claim that Anthony Martial ’almost conned’ him at centre-forward for Manchester United, insisting the Frenchman has already proven himself in the role.
The 24-year-old was moved inside last season and repaid Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s faith in him with 23 goals in all competitions for the campaign.
Martial, however, hasn’t picked up from where he left off last term. He is yet to find the back of the net this season and was sent off in United’s 6-1 defeat to Tottenham before the international break.
United legend Scholes has been left unconvinced by the 24-year-old’s credentials as a striker and claimed he has flattered to deceive.
‘The problem with United’s forwards is that none of them is an actual centre-forward,’ Scholes said earlier this month.
‘Martial almost conned us into thinking he was one at the end of last season because he scored so many goals and was quite good.
‘He’s started this season quite poorly again, which makes you think he isn’t. It’s misleading.’
‘I don’t think Martial at first is a No.9,’ Saha told Stadium Astro. ‘But he has the quality to give some more options because he’s able to take the ball and control and dribble, link up with players.
‘In terms of getting in that position where a midfielder like Paul Scholes needs to have the understanding of where you’re going to be and where you’re going to run it’s very important and if he doesn’t see that maybe it’s an indication that something he needs to improve.
‘But, Martial has proved to me that he could be a No.9, he’s got to still learn from maybe [Edinson] Cavani and there are things he can improve.
‘But definitely, He was tremendous last year and he can evolve with players around him.
‘I disagree [with Scholes] a little bit.’
