The Reds visit the city of Odessa in southern Ukraine for the first time, knowing a point would be enough to seal qualification for the Europa League knockout stages, while a win could secure top spot in Group A.
A four-hour flight, sub-zero temperatures and a partisan crowd will all add to the challenge but Martial has played those factors down, insisting it’s all about how United perform on the night.
“It is very different – not just the supporters but the weather!” the French striker told MUTV, when asked about playing in eastern Europe. “Over there, it’s really cold at this time of the season.
“But it’s down to us to come to terms with that, adapt to the environment we find ourselves in and get the victory we need.
“You prepare as well as you can and rest on the plane, but a lot of it can be in your head. It’s how you approach things mentally. It’s about what happens on the pitch; if you do your stuff out there, that’s what counts.”
United eased to a 1-0 win over Zorya in September’s reverse fixture at Old Trafford but, with the Ukrainians now only playing for pride, Martial is braced for a different test in front of around 16,000 fans at Chornomorets Stadium.
“We’re expecting a difficult encounter,” said Anthony, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Monday. ”Things went quite well for us in the home game but it’ll be different over there.
“They’ll be in front of their own supporters and will be determined to make life difficult for us to get a result, so we’ll be on our guard.”
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