Erik ten Hag Sends Message To Cristiano Ronaldo Following Anthony Martial Return

Martial made his first start for United since returning from injury with the World Cup just days away, netting equalizing goal for the Red Devils.

It can be rightly said that Erik ten Hag’s favorite number 9 is back in the squad considering the spark Martial possessed during the pre-season. The Frenchman despite returning from injury earlier was forced back into the sick bed just days later.

In his absence Cristiano Ronaldo mostly played as the number 9 but with his return, question marks and eyebrows will be raised on who ten Hag will now field more with the January transfer window by the corner. Ronaldo is expected to leave following relationship between him and ten Hag grown bad.

However, Erik ten Hag may cleared the air already on how he plans to handle having two good players who desire to always play as he speaks in an interview following 4-2 victory against Aston Villa.

“Definitely [good to have Martial back]. We have some offensive problems with availability and we need more players available so we can rotate and not always play the same players,” Erik ten Hag said.

“We have to freshen now and again. You see tonight when we bring Garnacho on, we can bring Anthony Elanga in, with new energies coming up. We need that if we want to be successful, especially in the front line, we need rotation.

”It is a quick game, it is an intense game. What we have to do better is we have to play football at a higher intensity because that is what the top teams do.

“I think we have made a step in the right direction, but also on the ball, like in the first half, we have to be better in control.

“In moments, we have to have more composure on the ball to track an opponent up, then we can speed the ball up. I think we are heading in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go.”