Manchester United defender, Lisandro Martinez, has recently made headlines with his response to pundits' comments. The 28-year-old Argentine player has been a key figure in the team's recent victory over rivals Manchester City and is not shy about addressing critics.
Martinez played a crucial role in helping United secure an impressive 2-0 win over their city rivals on Saturday. He successfully shackled striker Erling Haaland, contributing significantly to the Red Devils securing just their third Premier League clean sheet of what has otherwise been a disappointing campaign.
The result marked a dream start for Michael Carrick as United's new interim head coach. This followed the sacking of Ruben Amorim and temporary placement of Under-18s boss Darren Fletcher at the helm for two games.
Facing criticism from Former Players
Prior to this derby match, Martinez found himself on the receiving end of jibes from former Red Devils midfielders Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. On The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt suggested that Haaland would "pick Martinez up and run with him" treating him like a "little toddler". Similarly, Scholes predicted that the Norway forward would "throw him in the net" after scoring. When asked about these comments by Scholes specifically, Martinez responded candidly.
Manchester United defender, Lisandro Martinez, said:
"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.
"And I think for me, I respect the relations when they want to help the club because everyone can talk on the television, but when you see [them] here face to face, no-one says anything in your face. So for me, I don't really care what they say. I just put the focus on my performance, the performance of the team and I give everything to this club until my last day."
Scholes later shared some of these comments on an Instagram story saying: "Someone's had a good game; was really happy for you." In response to being invited over by Martinez for tea (without sugar), Scholes tagged the Argentine's account. Martinez's response to pundits' comments showcases his confidence and determination. Despite criticism, he continues to perform on the field and contribute significantly to Manchester United's success. His recent performance against Manchester City is a testament to his skills and potential as a defender.
For sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts, this incident serves as a reminder that predictions are not always accurate, and players can often exceed expectations despite criticism or underestimation from pundits.
