Carsley leaves new England boss Tuchel with perfect present

It's too easy for Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea look ominous

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

The best Premier League loanees of the season so far

Kane the lock-picker! Perfect pass opens England floodgates

Weghorst slammed for goal celebration after Hungary coach collapses

Transfers LIVE: Neymar to make sensational Santos return

'Salah is not world class!' - Ex-striker issues brutal verdict

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

Three goals in 384 days: Ferguson's had a year from hell

Deschamps hints at reason for Mbappe's Real Madrid struggle

Man Utd plot new bid for Sporting CP sensation Quenda

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Ten Hag defends Martial amid criticism</li><li>Slammed for his performance against Newcastle</li><li>Will likely face Chelsea on Wednesday</li></ul>

Erik ten Hag hits out at 'unfair' Anthony Martial criticism as Man Utd boss insists 'everyone is giving their best' despite dire start to 2023-24 campaign

Premier League

Ipswich

The French forward had a forgettable outing in United's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United as he failed to make a mark on the game and was subbed in the 62nd minute. Even manager <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/watch-erik-ten-hag-fumes-anthony-martial-man-utd-berate-frenchman-performance-against-newcastle/blt561deaed36440d8a" target="_blank">Ten Hag was left fuming by his poor performance as he was seen shouting at Martial</a>. But now, the Dutch manager has come out in defence of his player amid severe criticism from all quarters, while insisting that the entire team is trying their best to improve themselves after a dire start to the 2023-24 campaign.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to reporters ahead of a midweek clash with Chelsea, the Red Devils boss said: "Anthony Martial played brilliantly against Everton. I don’t think it’s fair to point to one player. If you have one moment, you can’t make that as a pattern. The week before we played brilliant, lot of energy in the team, spirt, you see all the games before – I mentioned Fulham, Burnley, Brentford, Luton, so many games for evidence. If it was a pattern, these were different. But this is not a pattern, absolutely not. Everyone is giving their best, there is unity as a team."

WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

The 28-year-old has experienced an underwhelming campaign so far, managing to score just twice in 18 appearances for the club. With both Marcus Rashford and Martial out of form, Ten Hag's side have been wildly inconsistent. They are on the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/erik-ten-hag-man-utd-andre-onana-galatasaray-horror-show/bltdec8ce394dad0b81" target="_blank">brink of Champions League elimination</a> and find themselves seventh in the league, 12 points behind league leaders Arsenal.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Red Devils have a very busy schedule in December. After the game against Chelsea, Ten Hag's side will prepare for a home clash with Bournemouth before a must-win Champions League group stage clash with Bayern Munich. Huge domestic games against Liverpool and West Ham will follow before Christmas Day that could go a long way to deciding whether United make the Premier League's top-four.

WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Erik ten Hag hits out at 'unfair' Anthony Martial criticism as Man Utd boss insists 'everyone is giving their best' despite dire start to 2023-24 campaign | Goal.com Tanzania

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag came to Anthony Martial&apos;s defence after his poor performance against Newcastle United at the weekend.

Erik ten Hag hits out at &apos;unfair&apos; Anthony Martial criticism as Man Utd boss insists &apos;everyone is giving their best&apos; despite dire start to 2023-24 campaign