Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford in what was a nervy last 20 minutes or so and in this article I will give my opinion on Lisandro Martinez, who I felt was outstanding in the win.
Martinez showed his class because he had to show both sides of his game as he helped United hang on to clinch all three points against the Eagles.
In the first half, United had the majority of the ball and Martinez played a vital role in helping United regularly sustain attacks through his effective passing into midfield as United kept the pressure on Palace, who struggled to get out of their own half at times in the first half, such was the dominance of United.
Battling United, winning together!! 👹🔴 #mufc pic.twitter.com/FeqewFvafl
— Lisandro Martinez (@LisandrMartinez) February 4, 2023
It was noticeable how Martinez was deployed as the deeper centre-half of him and Raphael Varane in the first-half and this was an effective tactic because not only did it allow United the ability to use the Argentine’s ball playing abilities but it also allowed the United number 6 to recover the ball, and according to Statman Dave, the 25-year-old did that seven times.
Martinez’s performance against Palace just shows why Erik ten Hag is desperate to have a left-footed player playing at centre-back and it is easy to see why because of the angles that they create when in possession.
However, with United not being able to attack as much as they would have liked after Casemiro;s sending off, Martinez had to show his defensive grit and he did so with aplomb as he made several clearances and he won his both his duels on the ground and aerially as Palace threatened to get a result.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Ian Wright agreed that Martinez was solid defensively as he said: “That defender man, Martinez. He is something” [via BBC Match of the Day].
"That defender man, Martinez. He is something."@IanWright0 has a lot of respect for @LisandrMartinez 🤝
Watch live: https://t.co/ybNEcF4Vuk#MOTD pic.twitter.com/NyT7RyRpFS
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 4, 2023