Nicky Butt faces backlash after suggesting Lisandro Martinez will be no match for Erling Haaland in the Manchester derby on Saturday.
Michael Carrick faces a difficult test in his first game as Manchester United head coach, as his side lock horns with title contenders Man City at Old Trafford.
A week on from Ruben Amorim’s sacking, United appointed Michael Carrick as head coach. Darren Fletcher took charge for the previous two matches before returning to his previous role as U18s coach.
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Carrick’s first test: The noisy neighbours 🤐🏙️
The last Manchester derby ended in a scoreless draw in April last year, but Carrick will want to get the team back to winning ways after failing to get a victory from their previous four matches across all competitions.
It will be Carrick’s first game in the dugout since getting dismissed at Middlesbrough seven months ago, with United fans uncertain about what the team will look like.
Nicky Butt reminded of Erling Haaland’s record against Lisandro Martinez
Although Carrick is likely to stick with a back four system, as reintroduced by Fletcher in United’s 2-2 draw against Burnley last week, it remains to be seen what his preferred starting line-up will look like.
Of course, it’s likely to change over the next four months, but hopefully Carrick can settle on a team and find a winning formula.
United’s defence has been subject to criticism this season, with Amorim often chopping and changing his defence, especially mid-game.
United welcomed Lisandro Martinez back from injury before Christmas, with the defender still protecting his reputation as one of the best defenders in the squad. The 27-year-old has made 10 appearances for United since returning from injury.
However, it remains to be seen if Martinez will be a starter under the newly appointed head coach.
Former United midfielder Nicky Butt gave a damning prediction for Martinez ahead of the derby on Saturday.
“Haaland would pick Martinez up and run with him,” Butt told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
“It’ll be like when you see a dad at school running down the road with a little toddler. That’s what it’ll be like.”
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Butt suggested that Man City striker Erling Haaland, who has 20 goals in the Premier League this season, would be able to pick up Martinez and run away with him.
United fan Phil Brown was quick to correct Butt by reminding his followers on X that in six games against Martinez, Haaland didn’t score in five of them.
That is a record that bodes well ahead of the upcoming derby, even though Carrick has multiple defensive options to pick from following Harry Maguire’s recent return from injury.
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Ayden Heaven is a strong contender for starting role
Based on current form, Ayden Heaven is United’s most in-form defender right now.
The young defender was named on the bench for United’s 2-1 defeat against Brighton in the FA Cup, but he has a good chance of returning to the line-up against City.
If Carrick starts Heaven, he will only have room for one more centre back in the team, unless he plays Martinez in midfield, which seems unlikely.
Carrick will also have Leny Yoro to select from.
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