When the defender joined Manchester United last summer, Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back in his criticism of Lisandro Martinez.
Following United’s humbling 4-0 loss to Brentford in August 2022, Carragher singled out Martinez as being “too small” for the rigors of Premier League football.
“The other problem he’s [Erik ten Hag’s] got is the signing of Lisandro Martinez,”he said on Monday Night Football, per the Daily Mail.
“Now, we should never judge managers or players too early, but I’m convinced this can’t work because of the size of him playing in a back four.
“Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four, he cannot play there in the Premier League.”
Jamie Carragher may have written off Lisandro Martinez as being too small for the Premier League, but the Argentine has proven him wrong in spectacular fashion.
Martinez has been a rock at the heart of Manchester United’s defense, with his height proving to be no obstacle to his success.
In fact, his performances have been so outstanding that he has earned the title of the Premier League’s best center-back from Man Utd fan and United Stand presenter Mark Goldbridge.
After Carragher said Virgil van Dijk is a better defender than Premier League great Nemanja Vidic, Goldbridge replied: “I genuinely wouldn’t take much notice on @Carra23 opinion on CB’s.
“He told everyone Martinez would flop without watching him because he was small. Martinez is currently the best CB in the league on a debut season. Sit down”.
Carragher couldn’t resist replying to Goldbridge and used stats in an attempt to prove the United fan wrong.
He replied: “The partnership of Maguire & Lindelof in the 2019/20 season, conceded 1 less goal than Martinez & Varane have in this campaign.
“There are still 9 games to go this season.”
The partnership of Maguire & Lindelof in the 2019/20 season, conceded 1 less goal than Martinez & Varane have in this campaign.
There are still 9 games to go this season 😉 https://t.co/W3JyRbIiWX
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 10, 2023
It’s fair to say Carragher doesn’t agree that Martinez is the best centre-back in England’s top tier…
Martinez will look to keep proving Carragher wrong in United’s next match, which comes on Thursday evening when they welcome Sevilla to Old Trafford for their Europa League quarter-final first leg tie.