The Portuguese player has been Manchester United’s go-to man with penalties ever since he joined the Red Devils in January of this year. Rashford, on the other hand, was equally efficient from the spot last season, scoring seven penalties.
However, Martial’s record has not been so good – he only scored against Partizan Belgrade last season and had scored seven goals from nine penalties for Manchester United ahead of the game. Fernandes and Rashford, understandably, are ahead of him when it comes to taking penalties.
However, the Frenchman got the nod against Leipzig even though Rashford was on a hat-trick himself. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has now revealed the reason why.
Martial and Pogba were on penalty-taking duties for Manchester United against RB Leipzig
As soon as Manchester United were awarded a penalty, Solskjaer shouted from the bench, ordering Martial to take the responsibility. The Red Devils were already leading 3-0 when Martial stepped up to score his first goal of the season and Solskjaer later revealed that the Frenchman was on penalty duties for the game.
Manchester United were expected to face a stern test against the impressive Bundesliga side but put in one of their finest performances in the Solskjaer era instead. The Norwegian was visibly impressed with the efforts of his wards after the game.
Manchester United face Istanbul Basaksehir next in back-to-back games, and if the Red Devils manage to win those two games, they will be guaranteed passage to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with two games remaining. Solskjaer was adamant that his team would go for all three points when they visit the Turkish side.
With Edinson Cavani also in the roster now, Manchester United are not short of penalty takers at the moment. The question is, who will take the next penalty for the Red Devils?
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