"Come to my house and say it to my face."
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez (28, Man United) directly responded to Paul Scholes' (52) public criticism. He let his play do the talking on the pitch and proved it with the result.
On the 18th (Korea time), according to The Athletic's report, Lisandro Martínez said in an interview after the Manchester City match, "Manchester United legends can say anything. But if anyone has something to say to me, they can come anywhere and say it directly. My home is fine too," adding, "I don't care at all."
Man United beat Manchester City 2-0 in the derby at Old Trafford that day. It was Michael Carrick's first match in charge, and Martínez effectively neutralized "monster striker" Erling Haaland, completing the club's third clean sheet of the league season.
The atmosphere before the match was different. Scholes and Nicky Butt questioned Martínez's competitiveness on a podcast.
In particular, Scholes criticized, "To deal with Haaland you need De Ligt and Maguire," adding, "After he scores I'll throw him into the goal," while Butt mockingly joked, "It will look like a father running while holding a child."
Asked about that, Martínez said, "Anyone can say anything on TV. But no one says that when they face you. I focus only on my performance and the team's performance. I will give everything for this club until the last day," he emphasized. When asked whether those remarks were motivation, he drew a line, saying, "No. My motivation is my family."
Martínez also mentioned the changed atmosphere since Carrick's appointment. He said, "It's completely different. Even the mindset is different. He is someone who really knows what this club means," adding, "He is a legend who played here for a long time and won everything. He was quiet but confident, and that helped the players a lot."
His words were strong, and the match was stronger. Martínez proved his worth in the derby, and the debate ended on the pitch.
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