Lisandro Martinez delivered a sharp retort to critics who questioned his capabilities before the Manchester derby. The Manchester United defender specifically addressed comments from club legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Martinez Issues Direct Challenge to Scholes
"Honestly, he can say whatever he wants," Martinez stated firmly. "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."
The Argentine defender made these remarks in an interview with BBC following United's impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester City. His words carried particular weight given his dominant performance against City's star striker Erling Haaland.
Pundits Had Predicted a Mismatch
Before the crucial Premier League clash, Scholes and Butt had expressed doubts about Martinez's ability to contain Haaland. They shared their predictions on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
Scholes, a United legend himself, suggested Haaland would "throw him in the net" after scoring. Butt went further, claiming the Norwegian striker would "pick Martinez up and run with him" and treat him like a "little toddler."
Both pundits focused on Martinez's relatively shorter stature compared to the physically imposing Haaland.
Performance Silenced the Critics
The actual match told a completely different story. Martinez expertly marshalled Haaland throughout the game, preventing the City attacker from scoring any goals. United secured a convincing 2-0 victory at a vibrant Old Trafford.
"I think for me, I respect the relations when they want to help the club," Martinez continued. "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."
United's Transformational Victory
The derby marked Michael Carrick's first game back as interim manager. His attack-minded approach brought immediate success. United swept away recent gloom with second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu.
Mbeumo, returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon, scored beautifully in the 65th minute. Dorgu added another ten minutes later, finishing Matheus Cunha's cross to delight the home supporters.
City's title hopes suffered a significant blow with this defeat. Their star striker Haaland barely threatened throughout the match, thanks largely to Martinez's determined defending.
Martinez's Focus Remains Clear
The defender emphasized where his priorities lie despite the criticism. "I just put the focus on my performance, the performance of the team and I give everything to this club until my last day," he declared.
United's victory proved comprehensive. Except for some excellent saves by City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and three disallowed goals, the margin could have been even wider. The visitors struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the match.
Martinez's response to his critics combined professional performance on the pitch with direct words off it. His message to Scholes and other pundits was unmistakable: actions speak louder than television commentary.
