Lisandro Martinez gets better of Ivan Toney and proves laughable pundit criticism wrong

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Lisandro Martinez did not enjoy facing Ivan Toney early in the season. The Manchester United star had a much better game last night.

Manchester United’s loss against Brentford early in the season was a humiliation. 4-0 down at half-time, this was Lisandro Martinez‘s first away game in the Premier League and he was one of three players hooked at the interval.

This released a torrent of criticism in Martinez’s direction. Jamie Carragher infamously said he simply cannot play as a centre-back in the Premier League.

Martinez has already proven Carragher wrong. And with this victory over Brentford, he exercised the demons of his match-up with Toney, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.

Martinez wins the battle

Lisandro Martinez played all 90 minutes in the win, a rock at the back alongside Raphael Varane, who deserves credit too.

He won more tackles (three) than any player on the pitch, and was untroubled in possession, completing 92 per cent of his passes, while also winning six duels.

This was a big turnaround in fortunes from Martinez from his last encounter against Brentford, showing how he has adapted to English football.

Writing for The Mail last August, former Blackburn player Chris Sutton slammed the Argentine as a ‘weak link’.

He said: “Opponents have been targeting Manchester United’s 5ft 9in centre back Lisandro Martinez. 

“Brighton did it last weekend, abandoning their usual plan of playing out from the back to send long balls towards Martinez. Brentford saw that and targeted him, too, feeling it was a weak link they could expose. It’s smart.”

Perhaps they did attempt to target Martinez. But last night, and with any team lately, it has been proven that this is a tactic which simply will not work.

The combative defender has settled quickly to life in England – regularly getting the best of his opponents, and is a regular starter for Erik ten Hag.

Also with the added honour as a World Cup winner now, Martinez has become a fan favourite, who has earned the respect of his opponents.

At one stage last night Martinez clattered into Toney, sending him flying and complaining to the referee. It was symbolic of his adjustment. Last August seems like a very long way away.