Ten Hag backs Man Utd star to 'come back even better', laments 'bad choices' in defense

Erik ten Hag has backed the return of Manchester United striker Anthony Martial to become "even better" in the coming weeks if he stays focused.

The Frenchman has wandered off in recent years and he has spent the final months of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Sevilla.

Ten Hag seems keen to give Martial a chance to rebuild his career at Man Utd under him next season.

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The striker scored in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Liverpool in Thailand and netted again as the Red Devils came from behind to beat Melbourne Victory 4-1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"I'm sure he can come back even better," Ten Hag said after United's first of three games in Australia.

"I think if he has the right focus and motivation and works hard, he will have production because he is a good player.

"I say when he has the right focus and every day delivers his maximum, he will have production and that's up to him."

Ten Hag was delighted to see United's hard work on the training ground back in action on Friday, when Marcus Rashford and Edmond Lupancu's own goal wrapped up the win.

A deflected shot from Scott McTominay and a goal from Martial turned the game upside down just before the break after the Red Devils fell behind in the fifth minute on a Chris Ikonomidis strike.

The finish was as good as United's defense was poor, but Ten Hag refused to pick any individuals to criticize.

"I don't want to talk about the individual because I think it was from the start at the top of the pitch," the Dutchman said.

"The wrong choices and it ends like a card game. It's not an individual, it's rather the team that made mistakes.

"Second part, totally different approach to the opponent.

"They really stand back, really compact, we had to create on our own and on the left side it was not so easy.

"On the right side I was quite happy and we created a lot on the right side, four or five very good chances, we turned the game around, that was the very good thing, we don't go down, we react and we take care of the setback.

"Of course (Jadon Sancho played well) but I think the whole right side played very well because there is a good connection between Jadon Sancho and Diogo Dalot and Bruno (Fernandes), Martial and also McTominay."

David De Gea and Rapahel Varane were conspicuously absent from the Melbourne matchday squad, but Ten Hag said the issues keeping them out were not serious.

"You saw against Liverpool (De Gea) collapsed but he is already training," he said. "He's back on the training ground, no big worries.

"Raphael Varane is also training but something small and I'm waiting for him back on the training ground."