Joe Cole Says Martinez’s Man Utd Time Is Over After Red Card

• Lisandro Martinez was sent off at Chelsea on Saturday for raising an elbow into Wesley Fofana’s face, per BBC Sport, and Cole Palmer scored the penalty that made it 2-0.
• Joe Cole said Martinez’s time at the club has run its course.
• Michael Carrick did not look at Martinez as he left the pitch, and United are nine games without a win.

A Silent Exit and a Harsh Verdict

Michael Carrick did not look at Lisandro Martinez as the defender left the pitch at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Manchester United head coach was working out a plan with his assistant Steve Holland to get through the rest of the game. Joe Cole was less restrained. The former Chelsea and England midfielder said: “Whatever the next Man Utd phase is, I think Martinez’s time at the club has run its course.” Martinez, 28, was sent off in the 63rd minute with United already 1-0 down. Chelsea went on to win 2-0.

The Elbow That Followed a Booking

Martinez was already on a booking for fouling Morgan Rogers when Estevao swung over a corner. Martinez moved to block Fofana at the far post, raised his elbow and caught him in the face. The incident was missed in real time. VAR James Bell advised referee Peter Bankes to look at the screen, and the second yellow card followed within minutes of the first. Palmer scored the resulting penalty in the 64th minute.

World Cup final official Darren Cann called the challenge “inexplicable”. Cann said Martinez jumped into Fofana, made no attempt to play the ball and was not even looking at it as the corner came in.

It was not Martinez’s only error. He was also one of the defenders at fault for the opener, when Rogers ran through United’s defence on 50 minutes and lifted a finish over Senne Lammens. Harry Maguire, his partner at centre back, was also slow to react.

What the Pundits and Carrick Said

Cole did not stop at his prediction. “In a Man Utd shirt, he’s just at the scene of the crime too often,” he said.

Former England and Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock pointed to the swing in the game. At 1-0 United were still in it, he said, but “At 2-0 and down to 10 men, effectively the game is over.” He added that a sent-off player who holds up his hands and apologises to teammates can calm the mood in the dressing room. Then he came to Martinez: “the issue is that Martinez is making mistake after mistake at the moment.”

Carrick was asked whether Martinez had let him down. He said he had not had the chance to watch the incident again. “I’ve not seen it back, so I don’t know if it was or not,” Carrick said. On the wider effect, he said: “The second goal and losing a man at that stage had a big influence on it, for sure.” He did not criticise Martinez after the game. United’s winless run now stands at nine games in all competitions.

Eighteen Days After Madrid

The red card came 18 days after Martinez called out United’s summer recruitment following the 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid. He pointed the finger at Jason Wilcox and the club’s decision makers. “You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager,” Martinez said that night. He was fined for those comments, and he sat down with the club’s hierarchy to get back on the same page.

Saturday was his first start after the 1-1 draw with Leeds, and only his second following the interview. Wilcox watched from the ground alongside chief executive Omar Berrada. Martinez’s contract expires at the end of the season, and United hold an option on a further year with no guarantee they will use it.

What Comes Next

Martinez will be suspended for Sunday’s home game with Aston Villa. On Tuesday, Roma visit Old Trafford, and United need a win to keep their Champions League hopes realistic. Carrick had been expected to remain in charge for that match before Saturday’s kickoff. His team is teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. Carrick’s position is the question hanging over Tuesday.

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.

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