Ralf Rangnick believes a conversation he had with Anthony Martial benefited the player on his return for Manchester United.
Martial emerged for his first appearance since December 2 with the game goalless against West Ham and he performed brightly before he played in Edinson Cavani to tee up Marcus Rashford for a 93rd-minute winner.
United have rejected a loan offer from Sevilla for Martial, who informed Rangnick of his wish to leave last month, and Rangnick last week claimed the France international refused to be selected for the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa. Martial denied Rangnick's claim but the German did not backtrack in midweek.
Rangnick named Martial on the bench in the 3-1 win at Brentford on Wednesday night and turned to the 26-year-old and Cavani in a double substitution that paid off against West Ham. Martial was booed by a minority of supporters upon his introduction but impressed in a late cameo.
"Since we last spoke one-and-a-half weeks ago, I told him it's about being professional until the very last day no matter how long he stays or when he leaves," Rangnick said. "It was good to have this conversation with him.
"In the last two games, he was part of the squad and today he played a vital role in the goal that we scored. He's a top player, one of the best strikers in the Premier League but we have other players in his position and it is his wish to leave but, as I said to him, it always takes different parts to find an agreement and the way he trained and played when he came on today showed his professionalism I expect from everybody.
"I am happy he was playing today, that came on and had a vital role in the goal."
Rangnick thanked the United supporters for their backing throughout the game in what he felt was the best Old Trafford atmosphere since he took charge last month.
"I enjoyed the other wins," he added. "The win at Brentford was as important as the win today. This was an extremely emotional game and an extremely emotional moment if you score in the last seconds of the game and there is no time for the other team to try.
"Knowing it was extremely emotional, thank you to the Red Army, the way they supported the team all through the game, they pushed us and carried us through the game. It was amazing.
"Since I have arrived, in home games it was by far the best atmosphere in the stadium."
