Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has attracted attention for his irritation at being asked to move to defense.
“Video footage has emerged of Anthony’s irritation at being asked to play left-back in extra time during United’s FA Cup victory over Liverpool,” the Daily Mail reported on Aug. 18 (KST).
The Red Devils won their 2023-24 English FA Cup quarterfinal home tie against Liverpool 4-3 after 120 minutes of hard-fought action at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Aug. 18.
Last season’s FA Cup runners-up, United met their biggest rivals on their way to the semifinals. In one of the world’s greatest rivalries in the FA Cup, the North West Derby, it was the home team that came out on top in a nail-biting encounter.
United took the lead through Scott McTominay in the 10th minute of the first half, but conceded goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mohamed Salah in the 44th minute and stoppage time.
After a scoreless start to the second half, defeat seemed imminent, but Anthony scored a dramatic equalizer in the 42nd minute to send the game into extra time.
In overtime, the two teams continued to battle. Harvey Elliott scored in the first 15 minutes of extra time to give Liverpool the lead again, but Marcus Rashford equalized seven minutes into the second half of extra time to tie the game. As extra time drew to a close, it looked like the game would go to penalty kicks, but United’s 2002 class of 2002 signing Ahmad Diallo scored the winning goal to give United the victory.
The 4-3 victory sent United into the semifinals, where they would once again try to win the FA Cup. The draw for the quarterfinals drew Coventry City of the English Championship (second tier), which increased United’s chances of reaching the final.
A video posted by a fan on social media after the game went viral. In the video, United players were preparing to start the second half after the first half of extra time when Anthony, who joined the club for €100 million last season, made a baffling gesture towards manager Eric ten Haag.
According to the media, in the second half of stoppage time, Anthony was told by Van Gaal to play at left fullback. With Anthony dropping back to defense, the front three was Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Ahmad Diallo.
Being told to play as a defender when he was a striker and had scored the goal of the day irritated Anthony. He looked towards the bench several times as he entered the field, and Andre Onana and Rashford approached him to calm him down.
In the end, however, Ten Haag’s instructions were successful. Diallo, who moved up front in place of Anthony, rattled the Liverpool net with a pinpoint strike from a counter-attack in second-half stoppage time to send United into the FA Cup semifinals.
