Fans lauded Anthony Martial for advising a ball boy to slow down and take his time when handing back the ball during the final minutes of Manchester United’s resounding victory over Liverpool on Monday.
A video circulating on social media shows Martial attempting to run out the clock by motioning to the youngster to keep onto the ball after winning a corner for United deep into stoppage time at Old Trafford.
United needed to see out the final 90 seconds to secure the win, which saw Martial utilize every trick in the book to grab Erik ten Hag’s first points as a Premier League manager.
United would go on to win the game, moving them above Liverpool in the table, and fans took to social media to congratulate the striker for his contribution to the triumph.
Martial was also able to win back some United fans after falling out of favor under previous managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
‘Tony was like, take your time,’ one admirer tweeted. ‘I adore this gentleman foreal.’
Another praised Martial’s strategy, stating, ‘Ice cold time wasta.’
One supporter applauded Martial for’stepping up’ in one of the club’s most recent victories. ‘What I appreciated most about this portion of the game is Martial actually stepping up,’ they remarked.
‘On the throw in, he didn’t glance around for others to come over and hold the ball in the corner.’ He simply did it. ‘I never thought of him as a fighter or a leader, but it was good to watch his character develop.’
Another Twitter user expressed delight that the ball boy understood what Martial was asking of him, writing, ‘The ball kid nodding his head.’ He was aware of the mission.’
One supporter stated that United and Martial have become’savvier’ in terms of securing three points.
‘It just shows how far the team has developed and gotten a little savvier,’ they tweeted. He performed this directly in front of us, and as he walked to the corner, someone next to us exclaimed,’ref, he’s not wasting time, that’s simply how he normally races!”
It rounded off a fantastic night for Manchester United fans, who watched Jadon Sancho hold his cool in the area to put ten Hag’s side ahead in the 16th minute, before fellow England star Marcus Rashford buried his chance early in the second half to extend the lead to two.
Although Liverpool pushed for an equalizer when Mohamed Salah cut the deficit to one in the 81st minute, Manchester United held on to claim their first win of the season in front of a raucous home crowd.