Michael Carrick’s Man Utd ended their home season in style with a victory, and his trust in a struggling star paid off in the process.
The 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest will be remembered for Bruno Fernandes equalling the Premier League assist record despite the best efforts of his teammates.
Luke Shaw also broke his scoring drought, while Matheus Cunha is becoming the team’s new maverick now.
However, it is notable that Michael Carrick’s trust in a struggling star is paying off. He could be like a new signing next season after a tough time this year.
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Lisandro Martinez bounces back vs Forest
For a player who is usually one of the first names on the teamsheet every game, this season has been well below par for Lisandro Martinez.
His injury issues refuse to subside completely, sapping him of any momentum that comes with playing consistently.
In recent games, that inconsistency has reared its head in bad ways, as Martinez has struggled to impose himself on games in his trademark aggressive style.
He was given the runaround by Brian Brobbey against Sunderland, and the usual spark in his game on and off the ball has been missing for a while now.
Regardless, Carrick has continued to trust him, not hiding that he’s the first-choice CB when fit, as evidenced by his starting ahead of Ayden Heaven when both players are available.
Against Forest, that trust seemed to start paying off, as Martinez found his footing again in a physical game against Chris Wood.
His last-ditch clearances and zippy passing from the back returned, while he also showed the confidence to progress the ball forward via dribbling.
That bodes well for him as well as Man Utd, because this can be written off as a lost season for him.
Martinez could be like a new signing next season
It’s a cliche as old as football itself, but it stands true for a reason, and that’s because it’s true.
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It’s common knowledge that a fit and firing Martinez is one of the best in the world, let alone first-choice at Old Trafford.
For United to finish third in a season where he barely contributed anything of note is extremely encouraging, because he raises the floor of the team.
If he can recapture the form of his debut season, when his partnership with Raphael Varane was pure excellence, then he will be like a new signing next season.
In Ayden Heaven, United also have a player to help manage Martinez’s minutes to ensure he remains in top shape throughout the season.
Decreased reliance on Martinez being fit is a good omen for United, because when he is fit, the team’s reality changes.
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