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Manchester United face PSV Eindhoven in their first game after returning to the UEFA Champions League. Winger Memphis Depay swapped Eindhoven for Manchester and hopes that he can form a deadly partnership with fellow new boy Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw.
United raised more than one eyebrow when they snapped up 19 year old Anthony Martial for an initial fee of 36m GBP that may rise to 56m GBP. Martial had played just 11 full games for Monaco before United came calling and was on the verge of his France debut.
He showed no signs of the pressure of his price-tag as he came on against Liverpool FC to score a very composed goal that reminded everyone of the player he is often compared to – Thierry Henry.
Depay hoping Martial and him can spur each other on
Depay moved to United in the summer after finishing as the top scorer of the Dutch league and while the player has been one of the better players attack-wise for the club, he was substituted at half-time for Ashley Young who eventually won the free-kick that put United in the lead.
However, Depay is hoping that him and Anthony Martial can help each other hit greater heights.
Speaking ahead of the PSV tie, Depay was quoted as saying by ESPN FC:
“We are both young so we can help each other and ask each other questions. The same is for Luke Shaw, I speak to him a lot and he has played more than me in the Premier League, so I ask him a lot of questions. We can all help each other.”
Van Gaal confident Depay will improve
Having subbed him at half-time for Young, perhaps the United manager was worried about the confidence of Depay taking a hit.
“As a manager you are never satisfied but he is doing well,” he said. “He has played every game. There is a high rhythm in the Premier League and he has to adapt. He will improve, I think. You have to accept that players of 21 years old are not consistent.”