What a difference one man makes. The Manchester United supporters, basking in the glory of an FA Cup triumph over bitter local rivals Man City, can only wonder how differently the season would have gone had they not been without a certain star man for much of the campaign.
By Pep Guardiola’s admission, his return to Erik ten Hag‘s starting XI was a bit of a game-changer.
Not only Manchester United‘s best defender but arguably their best passer of the ball too. The most important cog in Ten Hag’s tactical machine. There were understandable concerns that Lisandro Martinez had been rushed back too early from injury – and not the the first time – while the Argentine’s lack of match sharpness may have had Erling Haaland licking his lips pre-match.
But as Martinez bullied Haaland into submission – United’s mini maestro the victorious David against Man City’s striking Goliath – Man City’s biggest threat simply could not free himself from the World Cup winner’s clutches.
For Guardiola, dejected and disappointed but gracious in defeat, this was a performance which proved that ‘Licha’ Martinez belongs amongst the very elite of world football. Not just because of his defensive prowess but for the famously fizzing, line-breaking passes which rendered City’s press rather ineffective.
Lisandro Martinez shines in Manchester United win
“Lisandro Martinez is a top five centre-back in the world,” sighs Guardiola, his quotes reported by Fabrizio Romano on X.
“He made the difference on this game by playing passes through our defence.”
This was only Martinez’s 11th start in all competitions. If only Ten Hag could have called upon his former Ajax stalwart more regularly, United’s defence a shadow of their Golden Glove-winning 2022/23 selves without a man who, along with Bruno Fernandes, has to be one of the most impressive signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
“Disappointed today. That is normal from teams who lose finals,” adds Guardiola, Jeremy Doku finally finding a way past Andre Onana in the 87th minute with a daisy-cutter shot from range.
“Credit to United for the second goal (scored by Kobbie Mainoo). The quality they have…
“The second half is not easy because they defend, man-marking, they (fill) the pockets (of space), and the transitions were there. Unfortunately, we scored a little bit late.”
Erik ten Hag bemoans injury issues
For one of the first times all year, Guardiola’s opposite number had an almost full-fit squad to choose from, even if Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and Casemiro still all missed out.
“We didn’t have the players,” Ten Hag says via the Man United website, a relentless spate of injuries making momentum almost impossible to maintain.
“You are right we have seen the same thing. It has not always been good football. But we have had to make a lot of compromises and then you can’t play the football you want to play. I have been here two years and we have maybe had three or four times when we have had the full squad available.
“Today, again, we have had players like Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Casemiro not on board.”
In their absence, however, the likes of Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sofyan Amrabat stepped up massively, with Martinez offering a timely reminder of his genuinely world-class qualities on English football’s biggest stage.