Crystal Palace and Manchester United played out a goalless draw in the Premier League on Saturday.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has told The Guardian that he had identified Anthony Martial as Manchester United’s main threat in attack ahead of this weekend’s match between the two sides.
Palace held United to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
France international striker Martial, who joined the Red Devils from AS Monaco in the summer transfer window, started the game and played for the entire 90 minutes.
Palace boss Pardew has admitted that his main concern before the game was keeping the 19-year-old quiet.
“We didn’t give Martial an inch today,” the former Newcastle United boss told The Guardian. “Not an inch.
“It was a big target for us to stop him and we felt if we could stop him, we could stop their creative angle.
“When you take into account his age, that’s some recommendation, by the way… I have to say he is an impressive young player.
“I think he handled himself very well because he would have felt our presence around him and still he had moments in the game.”
Martial struggled to make an impact against Palace, especially as he was played out wide on the left.
The former Monaco man took one shot, had a pass accuracy of 45%, created one chance, attempted four dribbles, won 50% of his tackles and 67% of his headers, and made one clearance and two blocks.
In seven Premier League appearances for United so far this season, Martial has scored three goals and created six chances.
The teenager has a pass accuracy of 70% and a shot accuracy of 75%, and has won 18 headers, 24 dribbles and three tackles.
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