He won’t be around for much longer
Manchester United play their final game of the season this afternoon against Watford at Old Trafford. Given the lack of anything to play for in this game, José Mourinho has taken the chance to give fringe players some minutes; Matteo Darmian, Scott McTominay, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick all start in what will be Carrick’s last ever match as a player.
It was understood that Anthony Martial would start as well, but he is not even in the match day squad.
Here it is – our final starting XI of the 2017/18 @PremierLeague season! #MUFC #MUNWAT pic.twitter.com/PvLU3Ahnp8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 13, 2018
Martial was at Old Trafford today, but left three hours before kick off. MUTV have said that Martial is injured, although that might not be the whole story.
Mourinho said Anthony Martial would play today but he's not in the squad. No reason given yet. He was at Old Trafford about 12pm but drove away.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) May 13, 2018
MUTV say Martial is injured. So not quite Van Nistelrooy against Charlton 12 years ago. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 13, 2018
United fans all seem to be in agreement that this is the end of the road for Martial. Some have long been waiting for this and have come to terms with selling him, but some are still angry to see such a talented player be wasted by Mourinho.
https://twitter.com/HelioPinilla/status/995652509006954497
https://twitter.com/EIDiabloRojo/status/995651783170158593
When I gatecrash the board meeting after Martial has been sold https://t.co/4EdOhhAKZR
— Marrotti (@AliquamScripto) May 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/NickiiDupre/status/995654556846567424
https://twitter.com/shiraznawaz/status/995655825703276545
After CR7, seeing Martial leave will be heart breaking! #MUFC
— TWIST (@OliverMupini) May 13, 2018
Whichever team martial goes to is gonna be so lucky, such talent wasted
— Norville Rodgers (@ThatBloodyURKEL) May 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/JunaidAhmed57/status/995655704324210691
https://twitter.com/BeksHNDRXX/status/995655702780801029
Martial played in United’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton last Friday night, but was not at his best. That might have more to do with the fact that the last time he played two consecutive league games was in January, rather than a lack of quality.
Mourinho dug him out after the game, souring an already rocky relationship. “For 10 months I get asked ‘why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku? Why always this player?’ ‘That guy doesn’t have a chance to start, the other one is on the bench’. You know why now”, Mourinho said.
