EXCLUSIVE
Ryan Giggs says he would pick Anthony Martial in his Manchester United team, despite admitting he suffers from inconsistency.
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The forward was United's top goalscorer last season with 17 goals - more than Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata or fellow young forward Marcus Rashford.
The 21-year-old has featured in 15 Premier League games this term, but has only scored three times.
However, Giggs, who spent 24 years in United’s first-team, is confident he will improve and maintains he can still be decisive, despite having some weaker performances.
“He’s still a young player and second seasons can be really difficult,” he told Goal at a Premier Futsal event in Delhi.
“You’ve seen it with so many young players. I think he is still exciting and he can be a match winner still. He’s just been inconsistent. I like him and would pick him in my team. He will only get better.”
After winning the EFL Cup, the Red Devils are 17 points behind leaders Chelsea in the English top flight, take on the Blues in their FA Cup quarter-final on Monday and will settle their Europa League last-16 tie with Rostov next week, having drawn 1-1 away on Thursday. Giggs feels things are coming together nicely for manager Jose Mourinho, though the former Wales international admits he is paying for a poor start to life at Old Trafford.
“I think he’s done okay. He had a slow start and it is always difficult,” he added. “If you look at Jose’s career so far, he has always dealt with similar kind of teams - Porto, Chelsea, Inter.
“With United, he was coming into a team which was strong squad wise but I think he is still struggling a little bit to find his best XI.
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“I think gradually he’s finding his best 11, 12 or 13. But the problem is the slow start he has had. Other teams started quickly and now he has to play catch up.”
After seeing David Moyes and Louis van Gaal come and go in quick succession in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure at United, Giggs has witnessed immense change in a short space of time at his old club.
As uncertainty continues to surround the future of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, Giggs maintains it is time for English clubs to stop relying so heavily on managers.
“There needs to be someone at a club, be it a director of football or chief executive, who knows the club and its recruitment process,” he said. “Someone who can spot an ‘Arsenal’ player or ‘Manchester United’ player because they are different.
“Even if the manager changes, the culture of the club shouldn’t change. I think we still have a lot to learn in respect to that. When the coaches are changed every two year or so, you need someone in the background who is going to ensure the youth system is alright like a sporting director.
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“I think it is a good role for ex-players if they are willing to put in the hours because they have been there. Especially if they have played for the club.
“But I think in this atmosphere, there are no managers who are getting the time to stay for eight to 10 years at a club and build a legacy.
“I’m not looking to do the role of a sporting director but I look at Southampton and I see a couple of players at the club who look after the welfare of the club regardless of who the coach is.
“The coach picks the team, he delivers the training sessions but underneath that they are responsible for keeping the club running.”