Former Manchester United defender, Paul Parker, has strongly criticized Anthony Martial and issued a stark warning to manager Erik ten Hag.
Former Old Trafford favourite, Paul Paker, believes the Dutch coach should be sacked if he continues to favor Martial over Rasmus Hojlund, United’s exciting new signing of the summer.
Ten Hag has been told he must start Rasmus Hojlund in United’s next game over Anthony Martial
Hojlund, who joined United for a hefty £72 million from Atalanta, recently made his debut as a substitute during United’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal. Parker was notably impressed with the 20-year-old’s performance and believes he deserves to start for United when they face Brighton on September 16 after the international break.
Parker stated: “If he doesn’t start against Brighton, then all fans will want Erik ten Hag fired, and it would almost be justified. It wouldn’t make any sense if he started on the bench. Martial shouldn’t even be on the bench. There must be a youth player who is better who can sit on the bench, and Hojlund can be the first striker.”
Parker’s frustration with Martial stems from what he perceives as a poor attitude and consistent sulking, in contrast to Hojlund’s enthusiastic and energetic style of play. Parker believes that United fans are tired of seeing Martial’s lackluster performances.
Reflecting on Hojlund’s brief appearance against Arsenal, Parker emphasized the young player’s positive impact with his speed and physicality. He said: “I actually don’t agree that you can’t already judge Rasmus Hojlund based on the minutes he had against Arsenal. You certainly can because he made a huge difference when he was substituted in.”
In contrast to Martial, Parker highlighted Hojlund’s physical presence and willingness to run deep with incredible speed. He even compared Martial to a greyhound that never runs past its target, implying that Martial lacks the determination displayed by Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund in the match against Arsenal
Gary Neville, another former United defender, also praised Hojlund’s debut, highlighting his potential as a target man, something the team has been lacking. Neville noted that Hojlund is still learning the game and could bring a valuable dimension to Manchester United’s attacking play.
The situation surrounding United’s striker selection has put Erik ten Hag’s future in question, as fans and pundits alike are eager to see Hojlund given more opportunities to showcase his talent.
