The Frenchman has revealed he played with injury under the dismissed United boss.
Anthony Martial has criticised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho for his difficult spell at Manchester United.
The French star found a solid start to his United career under Louis Van Gaal in 2015. However, he failed to live up to expectations when Mourinho replaced the Dutchman at Old Trafford.
Martial’s situation didn’t change much during Solskjaer’s presence at Old Trafford. The Frenchman has now claimed he played with injuries for Solskjaer’s side.
“I regularly played injured,” Martial told France Football.
“People don’t know it, I couldn’t accelerate during the four months following the Covid season. The coach tells me he needs me, so I play. But, given my game, if I can’t accelerate, it becomes very complicated all the same. And I got set on fire [criticised by fans], the coach never bothered to tell the media.
“Obviously, I ended up getting injured for good and when I came back, finished, I didn’t play anymore.
“I took it very badly, I had a feeling of injustice, you are asked to sacrifice yourself for the team and behind the scenes you are dismissed. For me, it’s almost treachery. That’s all I hate. I can be blamed, but not for being fake.”
‘Mourinho likes these little games’
Martial also hit out at Mourinho, who named him as one of United’s ‘spoilt kids’ before leaving United in 2018.
“During the holidays, he [Mourinho] sent me a message to ask if I want to change to the No.11, explaining to me that it is great because it was worn by Ryan Giggs, a club legend”, Martial continued.
“I tell him that I have the greatest respect for Giggs but I prefer to keep the No.9. When I returned to the club, I see my name with the No.11, the story did not end well. He [Mourinho] lacked direct respect for me.
“He talked about me in the press, little phrases, a bit like he had done with Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, He likes these little games. But he also knows who he is doing it with.
“He knows that I am then 20 years old, that if I say something, it is I who will pass for the young person who lacks respect.
“So I said nothing, it was useless. The following season, I was the best in the team in the first part of the season, he brought in Alexis Sanchez and there I hardly played anymore.
“It’s the season of the World Cup and it cost me dearly, especially since the France team won [the tournament]. I should have been there.”
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Manchester United
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
