"I don't see the fire in their belly" - Dwight Yorke urges Manchester United duo to try their luck somewhere else following underwhelming performances
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has questioned Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho's desire and ability to impact games for the Red Devils.
Both players have struggled immensely this season. Sancho has contributed just six goals and two assists in 38 games across competitions. Manager Erik ten Hag sent the winger for individual training earlier this season but there hasn't been much improvement since his return in February.
Anthony Martial, meanwhile, has had another injury-plagued season for Manchester United. He has featured in just 27 games across competitions, contributing eight goals and three assists.
Dwight Yorke believes that the likes of Sancho and Martial lack the 'fire in their belly' and should leave Manchester United. The Red Devils lost 1-0 against West Ham United at the London Stadium on May 7. Sancho and Martial came on as substitutes but failed to make an impact.
Referencing that game, Yorke told LordPing (via Metro):
"Anyone knows the history of playing away at West Ham, you have to roll up your sleeves and it’s never going to be easy. It was never going to be a pretty game of football and you’ll need impact players off the bench.
"You have five players to use as substitutions, but players like Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial coming on, I don’t see the fire in their belly when they come off the bench."
He added:
"I might be from a different breed, but the impression I get is that if something happens, those substitutes that come on will be like ‘yeah that’s great’, but they’re not coming on with a vindictiveness to get a result for the team..."
Yorke further spoke about Anthony Martial, who joined Manchester United from AS Monaco back in 2015. He also spent six months on loan at Sevilla last season.
Speaking about the Frenchman's disappointing performances, Yorke said:
"Martial has been here for seven years now, he’s looked good in spells and was very promising. But you can’t be going on loan at the age of 26 or 27, that’s for people who are 21-years-old or younger."
He added:
"Once Martial went on loan, that should have indicated that his time is done at the club, like how it did when Jesse Lingard went on loan. When you go on loan and come back, you don’t come back the same, not at that age."
Sharing his thoughts on Jadon Sancho, Yorke pointed out how the Englishman has failed to live up to his hype, saying:
"Sancho has found it very difficult to live up to the standards he was set, the British media built him up to be a way better player than he is. Sancho is lacking pace and belief in his ability, he needs to be a bit more direct."
He concluded:
"There was a big investment and Manchester United needed big performances from both of those players, but if you can’t perform then you need to try your luck somewhere else."
Sancho joined the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund for £72 million in 2021. Since then, he has registered just 11 goals and five assists in 76 appearances for the Premier League giants.
Manchester United move one step closer to UEFA Champions League return
The 13-time Premier League champions finished sixth in the table last season with their lowest-ever points tally (58) in 20 years. However, under Erik ten Hag, they have surpassed that tally comfortably and currently sit fourth with 69 points.
Manchester United won 1-0 against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, May 20. Casemiro scored an excellent goal to secure a big win for his side. They are now three points above fifth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand.
The Red Devils will face Chelsea and Fulham in their final two games and need just one point to confirm their place in next season's UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United have also won the Carabao Cup this season and are set to face city rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on June 3.