Van Gaal: Martial is doing great

But he’s started his United career with three goals in his first two Premier League appearances including two against Southampton on Sunday.

His second goal was credited to his attacking awareness as a weak back-pass from Maya Yoshida was intercepted by Anthony Martial, who calmly slid the ball past the goalie for Manchester United’s lead.

Juan Mata’s strike for United’s third came after a 45-pass move, which delighted the manager.

“Could he step up from being a 15 [goals] in 70 [appearances] man to a one in two man?”

We hang out together to make him feel a bit better.”He is a very good guy so I am happy to have him in this football club”. You know, several moments in the game, because then you put the pressure onto them. “We didn’t lose because of Manchester United, we lost by ourselves…”

Van Gaal was quick to praise his new no.9 during the post-match press conference and revealed how he communicates with the talented youngster. “He shows it”. “A lot of people are thinking he is a great star, but he is a boy of 19″, van Gaal said.

Responding to Koeman’s claim that United displayed defensive weaknesses, he added: “This is also remarkable, that he says that”. We have to learn from that because we made that mistake a year ago and we did it again today.

“We want to win this title and if we stay strong and keep progressing during the season anything is possible”. Emotionally they shall have a lot of dips so that I expect also from him but that is not a big problem for me. “I want to improve every individual, but because of that you also improve the team performance, which is what we are doing”.

He said: “It is a fantastic result away at Southampton and we have made a statement that we shall compete for the title”.

Martial was playing in only his second Premier League match and started with Wayne Rooney on the frontline for United.

Saints defender Jose Fonte, denied in stunning fashion by David de Gea, added: “I thought it was in but unfortunately he showed why he is considered one of the best in the world”.

“We are not playing a positional game only to control the game”.