Manchester United were beaten by West Ham United on Sunday but Lisandro Martinez is still expecting a successful season.
Manchester United have returned form the international break with a real mixed bag of results.
United came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 last weekend before a disappointing 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
Erik ten Hag needed a result against West Ham but saw United miss so many chances in the first half.
That came back to haunt United as West Ham took the lead through Crysencio Summerville, only for Casemiro to level it up for United.
Late drama arrived though as West Ham were awarded a controversial penalty and Jarrod Bowen stepped up to hand the Hammers all three points.
Lisandro Martinez on Manchester United
VAR have explained the decision but United can still feel pretty aggrieved at such a soft penalty decision deciding the game.
The result leaves United 14th in the Premier League table, having won just three of the first nine games.
United have scored only eight goals in those nine games and have already lost four times.
This record just isn’t good enough but defender Lisandro Martinez is seemingly feeling very confident.
Speaking to United’s official website after the full-time whistle against West Ham, Martinez admitted his belief that United will finish in the ‘top places’ this season.
Martinez is still predicting a strong season but admitted his frustration that the results just aren’t coming for United right now.
“I want the best for this club,” said Martinez. “I am pretty sure that this club will be in the top [places]. We will give everything to put this club where it deserves [to be].
“I am so frustrated honestly because our skills, our quality and in those days after the game, we miss [so] many chances and it is difficult to accept it, but we have to. That is it,” he added.
- READ MORE: Who is Lisandro Martinez? Step inside the life of Manchester United’s tenacious Argentine
Fans aren’t seeing what Martinez believes
We can admire Martinez’s belief and hope that his predicting skills are like that of Paul the Octopus.
Yet it’s difficult to watch United right now and believe that ‘top’ finish is on the cards as Martinez believes.
United are already 11 points behind Liverpool in second place and the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea all look much better than United right now.
It pains us to say that, but United aren’t scoring goals and have a tendency to give up soft goals at the other end.
Until those two issues are fixed, we just can’t see United ending up in the top four – and that will leave Erik ten Hag under increasing pressure.
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