Jose Mourinho hails Manchester United’s reformed supersub Anthony Martial after blasting the French striker last season
Old Trafford boss says the £36m former Monaco star is now smiles better and has a totally different attitude
JOSE MOURINHO says reformed supersub Anthony Martial has the look of a born grinner.
The striker is beaming at Manchester United thanks to four goals already this season.
That is in stark contrast to the last campaign when boss Mourinho blasted the Frenchman for his poor attitude and lack of consistency.
Mourinho said: “I see a great improvement in the person, in the mood, in the face, in the body language — if you want just a word, in the happiness.
“He’s a happy guy, he’s working extremely well.
“When he goes on from the bench, he tries to enjoy it and give something.
“I am very pleased with his attitude overall.”
Mourinho believes he, too, has put a smile back on the faces at United by changing the team’s tactics.
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While Louis van Gaal had decent players, his football was sideways and backwards as his ‘philosophy’ sent Old Trafford to sleep.
Mourinho has injected pace back into the side but says that is down to his approach not the players at his disposal.
The Portuguese said: “Welbeck, Di Maria . . . I don’t think they lacked speed at all.
“It’s the style you want to implement in the team that makes the team fast or not so fast.
“Speed in football is the speed of your brain, of your decisions. We try, with the qualities of our players, to implement that fast football.
“We are in a good moment. The team is playing well. It probably looks like we are faster than we are in reality.”
United are joint-top of the league with neighbours Manchester City as they head to Southampton today.
They have also won their opening games in the Champions League and Carabao Cup and scored four goals four times in seven games.
Players are now stepping up to the mark in all departments.
But one player who Mourinho still wants more from is left-back Luke Shaw.
He returned to action for the first time since April with a second-half appearance in the Carabao Cup win over Burton on Wednesday.
But Mourinho insisted: “He has to work. He has to improve.
“He hasn’t played for six months. I cannot expect him to be back and strong in his work.”
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