Man United’s Martinez fires back at Scholes, Butt

Lisandro Martínez has hit back at Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt after the former Manchester United midfielders suggested Erling Haaland would physically overpower him in the Manchester derby.

Butt, speaking on a podcast ahead of the game, predicted Haaland would “pick Martinez up and run with him”, adding their contest at Old Trafford would be remembered as “a dad after school running down the road with a little toddler.” Scholes piled on, saying “he’d score, then throw him in the net.”

United, though, beat Manchester City 2-0, with Martínez playing a central role in keeping Haaland quiet. Afterwards, the Argentina defender responded directly to the pre-match talk, singling out Scholes.

“Honestly, he can say whatever he wants,” Martínez said. “I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don’t care.”

Scholes was quick to respond, posting on Instagram: “Someone’s had a good game, was really happy for you… Tea, no sugar pls @lisandromartinezzz.”

Sources have indicated United were unhappy with the podcast comments, viewing them as mockery rather than analysis. The frustration has been heightened by the fact Scholes and Butt have been regular visitors at Old Trafford, including being seen in the directors’ box alongside Sir Alex Ferguson for the FA Cup defeat to Brighton the weekend before the derby, a match in which Martínez also featured.

Martínez said he is not interested in noise from former players unless it comes with honesty and accountability.

“I think for me, I respect the relations [ex players] when they want to help the club because everyone can talk on the television but when you see [them] here face to face, no one says anything in your face,” Martínez said.

“So for me, I don’t really care what they say. I just put the focus on my performance, the performance of the team and I give everything to this club until my last day.”

United’s derby win was also Michael Carrick’s first match as head coach, after being appointed midweek. Haaland was substituted early by Pep Guardiola, and Martínez credited Carrick with shifting the mood quickly despite limited time with the squad.

“It’s so different, so different,” Martínez said. “Different mentality, different guy. He [Carrick] knows what this club really means. He sent us that message that he played here for a long, long time.

“He won everything. He is a big legend. He wants to help the club and I think we were in a tough situation and it was the best moment to change that.”