Gary Neville has delivered a withering verdict on Lisandro Martinez after the defender was sent off in Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. The former United player also admitted the results are a worry, though he does not expect the club to be relegated. According to Football365.com.
Neville savages Martinez as United’s slide leaves relegation talk live
Martinez’s afternoon at Chelsea ended early. He received two yellow cards in as many minutes, first for grappling with Morgan Rogers and then for forearming Wesley Fofana in the face from a corner. Cole Palmer scored the resulting penalty, completing a difficult day for a player already struggling for form this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville placed responsibility for Rogers’ solo opener firmly on the 28-year-old. He said the midfield could have done better and that Harry Maguire needed to cover Estevao’s run. In his view, though, Martinez waited for Rogers to cut back onto his right foot, over-covered, and let him through the middle.
Neville acknowledged that Martinez is a World Cup winner, but said he sees him at fault for a goal every time he watches him for United, and for two against Chelsea. He said he would be “curled up in a ball” if he were conceding such goals. The quantity, he added, is remarkable, and the defence falls apart under pressure.
The criticism lands at an awkward moment for the Argentina international. Last month he broke ranks to criticise technical director Jason Wilcox, arguing that the squad is too shallow to compete at the highest level. His own form this season has been poor, and Saturday’s display extended that downturn.
The defeat leaves United 17th, just two points clear of bottom club Sunderland in the Premier League. Neville said the position means relegation has to be mentioned, but he does not think the club will end up there. Even so, he described the situation as “a worry”, citing a depression of results and performances.
Neville felt United were better in the first half against Chelsea, but said that was still nowhere near good enough over 90 minutes. He pointed to difficult games ahead, warning that any organised side with a combination or two will cause United problems. His conclusion was that the situation is really worrying.
