Former England star Joe Cole has slammed Lisandro Martinez after Manchester United‘s loss to Chelsea. He believes the Argentine’s career with the Red Devils is over, and the club needs to move on.
Speaking on TNT Sports during the match, Cole claimed that the red card changed the match for Manchester United, and Martinez has been making similar mistakes way too often. He believes that the next Red Devils manager should not consider the defender as a part of his project following the performance against Chelsea and said:
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“Whatever the next Manchester United, looks like, I think Lisandro Martinez has run his course. We know he’s been fabulous in an Argentina shirt and achieved some wonderful things. But he’s at the scene of the crime too often for Manchester United and is at fault for moments and goals like that. So I think that’s probably his time done.” (via Metro)
Continuing to talk about the red card at full-time, Cole added that Martinez’s decision to go after Wesley Fofana, while not looking at the ball, was a result of losing his man and said:
“This is unfathomable. He loses his rag. I think he has been muscled in the corner and he has found himself out of position and lost his rag. It’s a massive mistake.”
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel also hit out at the Argentine defender, saying that the defeat was all down to him. He added that the Argentine seems to be pushing for a move away and said:
“I put this solely on Lisandro Martinez’s shoulders. This is an absolute disgrace how he played this game. Two weeks ago he came out and made some very, very strong statements against his teammates, against the football club, and it felt like he was trying to orchestrate a move. What he did today, honestly, I have no words.”
“The first goal, he’s played a World Cup final, you can’t defend the way he defended for the first goal and the penalty, I literally have no words how crazy that was. Then he walks off the pitch shaking his head as if he’s done nothing wrong. So bad. It really is baffling how he can defend like this.”
Manchester United are currently 17th in the Premier League table, level on points with 18th-placed Crystal Palace, and two points ahead of bottom-placed Sunderland. Chelsea are currently fourth, five points behind leaders Manchester City and Arsenal.
Chelsea eased past Manchester United after first-half mayhem
Manchester United had several chances to take the lead at Stamford Bridge, with Wesley Fofana gifting Amad Diallo two clear chances. However, the Red Devils failed to make the most of their opportunities and could not break the deadlock.
Chelsea made the most of the situation and took an early second-half lead when Morgan Rogers ran through the defence in the 50th minute. Cole Palmer scored from the spot in the 64th minute, after Lisandro Martinez’s red card, and sealed the win.
Edited by Sripad
