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GRAEME SOUNESS, Roy Keane and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink all questioned Anthony Martial’s passion for football after he was dropped for Manchester United’s clash with Chelsea.
The French striker, 24, was left on the bench for Sunday’s headline game, with youngster Mason Greenwood preferred up front.

Martial was dropped by Man Utd for the game against Chelsea, but the Sky Sports pundits weren’t shockedCredit: PA:Press Association

Graeme Souness slammed Martial’s lack of passion suggesting he will look back on his career with regretCredit: Sky Sports

Daniel James and Marcus Rashford started on the wings, leaving no room for Martial.
And none of the Sky Sports pundits were particularly surprised by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dropping the former Monaco man.
Souness, Keane and Hasselbaink took turns questioning the United’s star ‘love’ of football, ‘passion’ and ‘priorities’.
Souness said: “Martial. I’m not surprised he’s been left out.

“I think he’s a young man who’s got all the talent to succeed at the very highest level.
“But will he be disappointed he’s not playing today? Does he show that he’s got a real passion for the game?
“Do you ever see him emotional about the game? I’ve never seen it.
“He’s one of those players who’s going to end up looking back on his career and thinking ‘I could have done so much more’.”

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Souness, Keane and Hasselbaink were all scathing in their assessment of MartialCredit: Sky Sports

Souness concluded: “I’m a fan, but I’m not a fan.”
Old Trafford legend Keane chipped in in agreement, adding: “It doesn’t look like he loves the game.
“That’s always a worry. He doesn’t love the game.”
While ex-Chelsea striker Hasselbaink added: “His priorities are in a different place.
“I think, for him, it’s more important to go past three players and talk about that.
“You know, ‘look how I got past three players’… but not put the ball in the net.
“That is more important for him. That’s the perception I can get from him.”
Souness continued: “I said at the start of the season, the biggest challenge Ole has is to keep the fire lit under Martial, because he had a good end to last season.
“I don’t think that’s happened.”
Just last weekend, Alan Shearer – the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer – claimed he believes Martial lacks the desire required to be an elite striker.
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Europa League last 16 draw sees Man Utd face AC Milan and Arsenal take on Olympiacos More

VICTOR LINDELOF delivered a UFC-style flying knee to Jon Bautista’s face to KO Axel Tuanzebe’s goal against Real Sociedad – but Paul Scholes has claimed it was NOT a foul.
Manchester United marched into the Europa League last-16 despite a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford thanks to a 4-0 demolition job in the first-leg.

Victor Lindelof threw a flying knee at Jon Bautista’s face seconds before Axel Tuanzebe scored a bullet headerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Replays showed Lindelof had clearly caught Bautista hard in the faceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

United thought they’d won after sub Tuanzebe scored in the second half with a bullet header.
However, the goal was chalked off by VAR as Lindelof was adjudged to have fouled Bautista split-seconds before his fellow defender’s superb effort.
Replays clearly showed the Swede had launched his knee into the head of Sociedad striker Bautista.
Fans even compared it to octagon legend Jorge Masvidal’s stunning five-second KO of Ben Askren at UFC 239.

Lindelof been watching highlights from Masvidal vs Askren 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️
— Sameel (@SameelDar) February 25, 2021

Lindelof was swiftly shown a yellow card but, incredibly, United legend Scholes later claimed a foul should NOT have been awarded and the header should have stood.
Incredibly, Scholes told BT Sport he believed the knee to the face was unintentional and didn’t affect the eventual goal.
The former England midfielder later went on to call United the favourites to win the Europa League, despite a host of talented teams – including Arsenal, Tottenham and AC Milan – all still in the competition.
During the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer introduced teenagers Shola Shoretire and Amad Diallo with the tie all-but won.

And even before kick-off, Scholes revealed he has been impressed with both.
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Split seconds after the foul, Tuanzebe scored with a bullet headerCredit: PA:Press Association

The ref checked the VAR screen, ruled out the goal and booked Lindelof for his troubleCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Scholes said: “Amad has been bought for big money from Atalanta.
“[But] he looks like he has ability, he’s left-footed, he can beat a man, he’s created and scored goals in the Under-23s.
“Exactly the same as Shoretire, he looks a really big prospect.
“I think he’s a player that can play on either side, cutting in, not really a wide player, but capable of scoring goals.
“As we saw with Amad when he came on last week, he looks a little bit tired at the end of his runs but that can happen.”
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BRUNO FERNANDES is ‘looking more and more frustrated’ with his Manchester United team-mates, according to Arsenal legend Ian Wright.
The Portuguese star, 26, has almost single-handedly turned around the club’s fortunes since arriving a little over a year ago.

Bruno Fernandes is growing increasingly ‘frustrated’ with his team-mates, says Ian WrightCredit: AP:Associated Press

Wright reckons ‘leader’ Fernandes is getting annoyed in his quest for United perfectionCredit: PA:Press Association

In that time, Fernandes has been involved in 55 goals in just 59 games and has carved out the role as leader of the team.
But Wrighty reckons he’s getting frustrated with his one-man show in his quest for ‘perfection’ at United.
Speaking on his Wrighty’s House Podcast, Wright said: “I look at Bruno Fernandes and he just seems to be getting more and more frustrated with people when I’m watching him.
“I don’t want people to take this wrong and say, ‘Oh, Wrighty’s digging him out’. I’m not digging him out.

“I just look at leaders like him, he’s obviously the leader of Manchester United, it’s blatantly obvious to see.
“Dennis [Bergkamp] was the leader for [Arsenal] on the pitch.
“But I never saw him get frustrated with individuals to the point where he was turning and doing that thing because it’s so demoralising for you.
“He [Fernandes] looks like a perfectionist, if everything is not bang on perfect he seems to be upset.”

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Fernandes started the 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad in the Europa League last-32 second-leg at Old Trafford.
But the ex-Sporting midfielder was hauled off at half-time with United leading the tie 4-0.
He was replaced by Marcus Rashford as the game ended 0-0, with Daniel James – who’d looked bright early on – taken off as an injury concern.
Before the game though, James was full of praise for midfield pal Fernandes.
The Welsh winger said: “Bruno has been unbelievable since he’s come in and not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well.
“He’s a real character and he’s brought a lot to the changing room. You can see he’s brought a lot to the pitch.
“We do speak a lot because I need to be on the same wavelength as him and, if I can know what he’s going to do before he does it, then it’s going to help both of us.
“I think in a game, there are times when he’s not even looked at you and you know that he’s seen your first five [yard runs].
“I’ve seen so many of those balls this season.
It’s just great to play with him and, hopefully, I can keep having a great connection with him.”

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IT WAS NOT quite the occasion Marcus Rashford would have hoped for to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his famous debut.
This time there was no crowd, the tie had been won and he had no goals to show for it.

Mikel Oyarzabal missed his early penalty with Dean Henderson rooted to the spotCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Sub Axel Tuanzebe thought he’d scored only for VAR to chalk off his goal for a foulCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

A far cry from that night against Midtjylland at the same last-32 stage of the Europa League when they trailed the Danes 2-1 from the first leg.
Anthony Martial got injured in the warm up, the door opened for Rashford and two goals and a 5-1 win later a star was born.
Last night he entered the fray as just a half-time substitute.
The tie by then was even more safely tucked in the bag with a goalless first half following Man Utd’s 4-0 win ‘away’ in Turin in the first leg.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was making no mistakes with no risks in his team selection.
He wants his first piece of silverware as United boss and knows this competition can provide it.
Any hope La Real had of a fightback, or at least a face saving win after they crumbled in the first game, was extinguished when they missed a 12th-minute penalty.
Daniel James was harshly adjudged to have fouled Andoni Gorosabel.

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Neither side were able to break the second-leg deadlock in the opening 45 minutesCredit: EPA

Thankfully for him La Real captain Mikel Oyarzabal hit the spot kick with less authority than Jackie Weaver, sending it wide and up the steps of the Stretford End.
It was the only mistake James made as he is beginning to look like the real deal again.
He admitted on the eve of the game the mistake he made in losing his place and his form was in not being true to himself.
Now James is ready to be James with those searing ruins and manager Solskjaer will hope the knock that saw him go off in the second period is not serious.
His change of approach had brought rewards with three goals in his previous three appearances.
Hugging the left touchline he would receive the ball and cut inside leaving defenders in his wake.
He can add movement to a frontline that lack’s it with Anthony Martial leading it and one great run to meet a Bruno Fernandes chipped through ball almost broke the deadlock.

Daniel James was denied a headed goal by a brilliant diving save from Alejandro RemiroCredit: AFP or licensors
It was on 36 minutes when Fernandes sliced across the ball sending it perfectly into the path of James who leapt and headed goalwards only to be denied by a full length save from Alejandro Ramiro.
There were further chances for United in the first period with Martial having a powerful shot from just inside the area well saved and Fernandes crashed a right foot effort off the bar.
They found the net on 63 minutes but Axel Tuanzebe was denied his first goal for the club by VAR after powering home a header from Alex Telles corner.
But it was ruled out on the VAR’s advice as Victor Lindelof had taken out Jon Bautista with a jump and knee to the face. The United defender would get a booking into the bargain.
There would special moments for teenagers Shola Shoretire and Amad Diallo in the second half.
Academy graduate Shoretire got his debut with a couple of minutes at the end of the 3-1 league win over Newcastle on Sunday.
Last night he became their youngest ever player to take part in European competition having turned 17 just last month.
Dialo, 18, who could cost United up to £37million came on for his debut following his switch from Atalanta where he had made a handful of appearances.
Two new United stars, five years after Rashford first shone.

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MANCHESTER UNITED are prepared to welcome Jesse Lingard back to the club when his loan spell at West Ham comes to an end, according to reports.
The former England star, 28, failed to play a single Premier League game for United in the first-half of the season.

Man Utd could welcome Jesse Lingard back to the first-team next season following his hot start to life on loan at West HamCredit: AP:Associated Press

Lingard had struggled in recent seasons at Old Trafford but has sparkled in LondonCredit: AFP or licensors

Lingard played twice in the Carabao Cup and once in the FA Cup before being shipped out on loan to the Hammers in the winter transfer window.
Since arriving, Lingard has scored three times in four matches after rediscovering his top form, including two goals on his debut during a 3-1 win at Aston Villa.
The attacking midfielder has now caught the eye of a host of Premier League clubs, with Leicester one interested outfit, according to Eurosport.
However, the Foxes will face competition from West Ham, who are believed to make his loan move permanent in the summer, say ESPN.

Despite that, Lingard remains a Man Utd player, with the Red Devils claimed to be keen on Lingard returning to replace Juan Mata – who will quit the club on a free transfer in the summer.
Earlier this week, SunSport exclusively revealed Inter Milan, Juventus and Roma were among the clubs interested in ex-Chelsea ace Mata.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Co could look to Lingard to take over his role at the club, with Mata having played seven times in the league this term.
However, United legend Rio Ferdinand has warned Lingard to stay away and instead stay at the London Stadium.

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Ferdinand said: “I just think this is a new chapter for him to go and prove himself again and go on to enjoy your football.
“When you’re not playing, I don’t care who you are or what you do off the pitch, you don’t enjoy your life.
“He’s been in that position for far too long.
“I personally think he needs to look at a new chapter in his life and that’s without Manchester United.
“Sometimes your time just comes to an end at a football club – it’s out of your control a lot of the time.
“And I feel he’s in a position where he can build a new chapter for himself here and be part of something really enjoyable.”

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