Leicester vs Manchester United: Claudio Ranieri says Paul Scholes was right to criticise Anthony Martial

Scholes claied Martial looked as though he was 'not bothered' whether he scored or not

Anthony Martial was criticised for his performance in Manchester United's draw with PSV (Getty Images)

Anthony Martial will benefit from receiving criticism from former Manchester United players like Paul Scholes because he is strong enough to learn from it, says Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri.

Scholes did not hold back in his scathing assessment of 19-year-old Martial after he claimed the striker was “not bothered” by whether or not he scores for United. The assessment came after United drew 0-0 with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, a result which leaves them fighting for their European future in the final group game at Wolfsburg, and Scholes identified a lack of desire in Martial to score more often.

“Martial for me has still got a lot to prove goal-scoring wise. He isn’t a centre forward who lives for goals,” said Scholes.

“He’s a player who likes to come outside the box, he likes to drift to the left wing. He doesn’t look bothered if he misses a chance. He doesn’t look bothered if he scores a goal. Maybe they need to go into the transfer market in January.”

However, ahead of this weekend’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash between United and Leicester at the King Power Stadium, Ranieri had encouraging words for the France international and said he expects him to take the advice on board and improve his game with it.

“It is right to make criticism - and Scholes made the right criticism - but it will improve his [Martial] mind,” said Ranieri. ‘His character is very strong, he is young but strong. It is important that he is also intelligent and then he can improve.”

The teenager has not scored in his last six matches for United despite a bright start that saw him net four times in his first four matches. However, having managed Martial during his spell with Monaco, Ranieri says he has enjoyed watching the forward develop and still believes that he will develop into a world class player.

“I think his impact for us was amazing,” Ranieri said of their time in Ligue 1 together. “I have watched him grow a lot since two or three years ago when I bought him from Lyon.

“Now he is young, but he is a man. Already, three years ago, he knew very well where he will arrive. Because his focus was to achieve a high level of football in the world. And I think he can arrive.”