Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has described Lisandro Martinez’s attempt to stop Morgan Rogers as ‘horrendous’, criticising the defender for waving an arm at the Chelsea forward instead of putting his body in the way during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
The goal that shaped the afternoon came in the 50th minute. Rogers collected the ball inside the centre circle, ran through the middle of United’s defence and lifted his finish over Senne Lammens.
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Martinez’s own afternoon fell apart soon after. Booked for hauling back Rogers, he was shown a second yellow 82 seconds later for catching Wesley Fofana with a raised arm as he defended a corner. Cole Palmer converted the penalty, and Manchester United, who are now 17th in the Premier League, went nine matches without a win in all competitions.
Speaking on The United Stand, Manchester United’s record goalscorer Rooney went through the opening goal step by step:
“The first goal for me was a killer for everyone.
“Rogers picks the ball up and just runs in a straight line. Yoro is out of position which can happen because there was a turnover. Maguire does the right thing initially but the closer Rogers gets, he has to get him and leave him out wide.”
Rooney described Martinez’s attempt to stop Rogers as schoolboy defending. The Englishman also explained what Martinez should have done instead to stop the Chelsea forward.
“And then Martinez comes across, his attempt at a tackle is horrendous, you wouldn’t want school boys doing that.
“He goes in and just touches Rogers, he doesn’t put any force into it, that’s where you put your body across and try knock him. He just waves his arm at him and lets him go through. That goal was horrendous.”
Martinez is suspended for Manchester United‘s next Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday.
What did Michael Carrick say about Lisandro Martinez after Manchester United loss to Chelsea?
Carrick was asked by TNT Sports whether he felt let down by Martinez and replied: ‘No.’ He also said he had not seen the incident, and told BBC’s Match of the Day:
“It has a major importance on the game. A huge moment. I think that is pretty obvious really.”
Carrick’s wider verdict on the match was blunt. He believed it was a game of two halves and admitted that the Red Devils unravelled in a way nobody expected after the interval.
Manchester United host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Athletic claim that the club’s hierarchy have agreed to keep Carrick in place until the November international break.
Edited by Nived Zenith
