If Lionel Scaloni could roll back the clock, the Argentina boss may have made a different decision when dropping Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier.
Yes, the World Cup winner can hardly be considered a man in form.
Lisandro Martinez was even dropped by Erik ten Hag after Manchester United conceded three goals on two occasions in a matter of days against Tottenham Hotspur and FC Porto before the October internationals.
But while Ten Hag could consider that decision justified as Harry Maguire and Man of the Match Jonny Evans kept Aston Villa off the scoresheet, Scaloni is not quite so certain that he made the right call leaving Martinez out during Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela.
Nicolas Otamendi, the former Man City stopper, took Martinez’s place in the Argentina XI.
And while the Benfica veteran did open the scoring after just 13 minutes, a 36-year-old Otamendi spent the rest of the evening chasing shadows. The Goal website, rating Otamendi’s performance a 5/10, described his return to the Albiceleste XI as a bit of a ‘nightmare’.
It will come as little surprise to see Scaloni re-call Martinez, then, when Bolivia come to town.
- READ MORE: Who is Lisandro Martinez? Step inside the life of Manchester United’s tenacious Argentine
Argentina boss explains why he dropped Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez
Scaloni, the two-time Copa America-winning coach, confirms that Man United’s number six is fit to start while pointing out that even the most experienced of tacticians are not immune to the odd ‘mistake’.
“[Licha Martinez] is fine. He did not play because we decided that Otamendi should play,” Scaloni explains at his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s latest World Cup qualifier.
“We decided based on what we see and believe. Sometimes, we make mistakes. Ota played because we saw him well and we believed that he could play.
“Licha is fine and does not have a problem. He will want to play and we will decide.”
Such a hit in his debut season, Martinez is yet to hit the heights of 2022/23 thanks largely to a long-running injury problem and a tactical set up which leaves Man United’s talented backline more vulnerable than ever before.
A central defensive partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt, with Manuel Ugarte in front, looks all-but impenetrable on paper. In practice, however, Ten Hag continues to undercook the sort of ingredients the would have most manager’s drooling.
Gary Neville urges Erik ten Hag to shake up United backline
“I’ve got the answer,” Man United legend Gary Neville said last week, arguing that Ten Hag could bring about change with a revamped defensive set-up.
“I can’t understand why he has not gone to three at the back. Seriously, if ever there was a team where you didn’t have a pair of centre-halves who could play together then it’s that group.
“My view is that if you look at Martinez, he’s perfect for a left centre-back in a three. Harry [Maguire] has played in a three many, many times in his career. De Ligt is someone who I think needs other people around him.”
Man United host Brentford in their first game back after the international break this Saturday.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
