Martinez Responds to Criticism with Strong Performance and Direct Challenge

The World Cup-winning South American defender, Lisandro Martinez, has provided two former England internationals the opportunity to confront him personally after their dismissive comments about his abilities. This comes in the wake of his impressive performance at Old Trafford, where he played a pivotal role in keeping Manchester City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, at bay. Under interim coach Michael Carrick, United delivered their most comprehensive performance of the season, securing a 2-0 victory, despite having three goals disallowed for offside that could have further highlighted their dominance.

In the lead-up to this match, former United players Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt made remarks during an episode of “The Good, The Bad & The Football” podcast. Butt claimed that Haaland would easily overpower Martinez due to his size, while Scholes suggested the Norwegian would physically throw the diminutive center-back into the net, following his record-breaking goal tally in the previous season. However, neither prediction materialized, as Martinez has consistently shown resilience against physical challenges. The 28-year-old defender remains unfazed by the opinions of Scholes and Butt, focusing instead on his performance and that of his team.

When addressing the pre-match comments that served as motivation, Martinez stated: “Honestly, he can say whatever he wants. I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don’t care. I respect their intentions to help the club, but on television, people can say anything. When confronted face to face, no one has anything to say. I prioritize my performance and the team’s success, giving my all to this club until my last day.”

Following Martinez’s remarks, Scholes promptly responded via Instagram, acknowledging Martinez’s strong performance with a light-hearted message, “Someone’s had a good game, was really happy for you… Tea, no sugar please.”

This season has been challenging for Manchester United, with Martinez making his first appearance on November 30 after recovering from anterior cruciate ligament damage. The club has experienced a difficult period, parting ways with coach Ruben Amorim due to inconsistent results and facing their lowest number of games in a single season since 1914-15, compounded by early exits from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Nevertheless, Martinez believes that the victory over City can be a turning point. He underscored the need for a strong connection with supporters: “It is about the connection. It’s about how we represent them on the pitch. If they see us fighting like that, they will be with us. Sometimes, if our performance isn’t up to expectations, it’s important to show the attitude and the DNA of Manchester United. I understand their frustrations; at times, it can feel like ‘what are we doing here?’

This win has brought United within striking distance of the Premier League’s top four, trailing by only one point. Securing Champions League qualification for the 2026-27 season is crucial, given that the team missed out on European competition this year. As the club prepares to appoint a permanent manager in the summer, they face a significant test in their next match against league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Martinez, who occasionally dons the captain’s armband, aims to lead by example once again.