Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has played down suggestions of a rift between himself and Anthony Martial after the latter went straight down the tunnel after being substituted during Saturday's 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
The Frenchman was withdrawn just before the hour mark at the Vitality Stadium and was replaced by Wout Weghorst. In truth, it was a harsh decision on Martial as he had been the most threatening of United's four attackers up until that juncture.
He started through the middle for the second Premier League game running after scoring in the 2-0 win over Wolves seven days earlier and was supported by Antony and Jadon Sancho either side of him. He cut a frustrated figure after being taken off and he headed straight down the tunnel opposed to sitting on the substitutes bench alongside his teammates.
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Martial, who could be sold by United this summer, later returned to the bench and watched his teammates close out what was a pivotal victory in the Reds' pursuit of a top four berth, and Ten Hag admitted in a post-match interview that he had no complaints with the United No.9.
"I think he played well, he returned to the bench, he's OK," Ten Hag told talkSPORT. "I think he just shot into the dressing room, I don't know what you want to make from it."
Victory at Bournemouth moved United to within a point of guaranteeing themselves a top four finish and Champions League qualification for next season. If they avoid defeat at home to Chelsea on Thursday night they will have got the job done with a game to spare.
Ten Hag added: "It's a final on Thursday and I hope all the fans are ready for it because we want to get that done on Thursday. We therefore need another good performance and that will not be easy.
"You have to be ready, you have to be on the front foot, you have to be at the highest energy levels. You need to focus.
"And then it's possible. We know that we are strong, especially at Old Trafford."
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