HARRY MAGUIRE defended Anthony Martial after two Manchester United legends blamed the striker’s open-goal miss and general poor finishing for a costly 3-1 defeat against PSG.
Martial‘s wastefulness at 1-1 and Fred’s red card left group leaders United probably needing to avoid defeat at RB Leipzig next Tuesday to reach the Champions League KO stages.
Fit-again France striker Martial blazed over a gaping net and soon drilled a rebound straight at Marquinos after Edinson Cavani‘s chip hit the bar.
And former Old Trafford midfield hero Paul Scholes said: “United paid for those missed chances. Martial’s chances were the ones.
“He is struggling a little bit for confidence at the minute, and he’s not getting the goals. Martial doesn’t need telling – he knows he should score.”
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United skipper Maguire responded: “Martial has scored plenty of goals over the last year, so I’m sure he’s down and disappointed.
“But he’ll come again and I’m sure he’ll be looking to put it right at the weekend.”
Nonetheless, ex-Old Trafford defender Rio Ferdinand also suggested Martial’s failure in front of goal early in the second half made the difference.
He said: “Martial’s chances come at good times to score for United.
“If he dispatches one of those it turns the game on its head.”
Marcus Rashford had helped put United in the ascendancy by cancelling out Neymar‘s early goal with his third strike in four games against the Ligue 1 kings.
But following Martial’s misses and Fred’s almost-inevitable sending-off – after he escaped a first-half red for a headbutt – Marquinos brilliantly restored PSG’s lead.
Neymar extended the visitors’ victory margin in stoppage time, although United still lead the group on goal difference from PSG and Leipzig.
