Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 8y

Pressure on Anthony Martial to score goals upsets United's Louis van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is not happy with the pressure being placed on Anthony Martial to score goals for the currently misfiring club.

Speaking ahead of United's Champions League group stage clash with Wolfsburg on Tuesday, Van Gaal expressed confidence that United would soon break their recent goals drought which has seen them record five scoreless draws over their past nine matches.

The just-turned 20-year-old France international could be the man to deliver those goals. But the Dutchman says he does not like the undue pressure Martial, who hasn't scored over his past eight matches for United, is being placed under.

"I think he is very talented, but we also have to say that he is just 19 years old," Van Gaal said on Monday.

"We have to give him time and that's always difficult when you are playing for a team like Manchester United because the expectations are very high, but I am very convinced that he shall continue with his performances and that he shall score at the right moment again, but you cannot expect of a 19-year-old player who is coming for the first year to the Premier League that he scores every week.

"I didn't expect that either. He was exaggerating at the start of his campaign in Manchester United and I know that and I have to explain it to everybody because he doesn't need that pressure to score every match."

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