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Manchester United star Anthony Martial's upset reaction to being substituted was positive, says Solskjaer

Getty Images
Getty Images

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he has no issue with Anthony Martial after the striker’s reaction to being substituted during Manchester United’s win over Aston Villa.

The France international was clearly upset when replaced by Odion Ighalo after 79 minutes of Thursday night's 3-0 victory at Villa Park.

Martial looked sullen as he sat in the stands for the remaining 11 minutes of the match, but Solskjaer insists that is precisely the attitude he wants to see from his no9.

“Anthony was brilliant all day, pressing, unlucky not to have scored,” said the United boss. “That will come.

“It’s great to see him unhappy when he comes off because I want players who want to be on that pitch with their team-mates. Brilliant.”

Solskjaer challenged both Martial and Marcus Rashford to develop a hunger for goalscoring when putting his faith in the duo at the start of the season.

He has since been rewarded with both players reaching the 20-goal mark across all competitions, while Mason Greenwood has 16.

Martial provided an assist for the 18-year-old's brilliant strike from distance at Villa Park and came close to scoring himself when hitting the crossbar in the second half.

Solskjaer, who wanted to sign Erling Haaland in January, has made it clear Martial is now the focal point of United’s attack.

“Anthony’s getting fitter and fitter and he could have lasted the game of course and he’s starting every game,” he said. “I’d be more worried if he wanted to come off.

“Everyone wants to be a part of the team, be on the pitch and he’s put a shift in so that’s fine. It’s great for me to have him available to start every game.”

Anthony Martial was not happy to be substituted during Manchester United's win over Aston Villa on Thursday night (Getty Images)
Anthony Martial was not happy to be substituted during Manchester United's win over Aston Villa on Thursday night (Getty Images)

United became the first Premier League team in history to win four straight games by three goals or more, but Solskjaer’s response to that statistic underlined the rising expectations at Old Trafford.

“We should have won by five clear goals in all of them,” he added. “I’m surprised by that stat, but we should have had so many more goals.

“We’re keeping clean sheets, which is great and I think we could have had a few more the other way.

“Of course we just keep going into every game wanting to win. If you win 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, it doesn’t matter if we get the points.

“But hopefully the goal difference won’t be the deciding factor at the end, because we should have had 10 more goals in the last two games.”

A run of 17 games without defeat points to United’s potential for next season.

Solskjaer added: “I’m sure Man United will mount a challenge and get back to winning the league.

“When that’s going to happen is down to every single one of us that’s here and how quickly we can make this process go.

“We’re definitely improving as a team and developing, and we have to remember we’ve come a long way in one season.”