Thursday 24 September 2015 08:44, UK
Louis van Gaal insisted he can manage the increasing expectations surrounding Anthony Martial after Manchester United's 3-0 win over Ipswich in the Capital One Cup third round.
Wayne Rooney scored his first goal in domestic competition this season and Andreas Pereira converted a stunning free-kick on his full debut, but it was Martial who stole the headlines once more as United booked a fourth round clash with Middlesbrough.
Twenty minutes after his introduction from the bench, the 19-year-old Frenchman latched onto Memphis Depay's knockdown and rolled the ball beyond Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski to complete the victory in injury time.
Martial has now scored four goals in just 225 minutes for United, but Van Gaal wants to protect his prize asset and resisted the temptation to lavish praise on the £36m forward after the match.
"That is not so difficult [for Martial to stay grounded] because he is a player who is very modest and he knows he can score because of his fellow players," Van Gaal said.
"We made it two times very easy [for him] because we won the game and then the gaps are existing and then with his speed and his composure he can score.
"He did it also against Liverpool and now again. We are happy but still we have to keep our feet on the ground."
Until Martial came on to great acclaim from the home fans inside Old Trafford, it looked like being Pereira's night.
The Brazilian had impressed greatly on United's pre-season tour but until Wednesday, the talented forward had not got a sniff of first-team action this year.
The 19-year-old reminded Van Gaal of his talents in the best way possible on the hour, dipping a lovely free-kick over the wall into the corner while Bialkowski stood there motionless.
"He can play all these positions [across the front]," Van Gaal said. "And his competitors are Young, Depay, Mata, Herrera, Rooney, Fellaini and Lingard.
"What is realistic is dependable on the level of the players. I put always the best player in the line-up when he is working for the team."
Van Gaal's opposite number Mick McCarthy, who made 11 changes for the match, was happy with his players despite the result.
"Manchester United deserved to win," the Ipswich manager said. "But I am delighted with my players.
"I could have put any team out against that team and probably still would have been beaten."
