"I'd be fuming as a new signing" | Soccer Saturday reacts to Lisandro Martinez situation at Man Utd

Sky Sports News

Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday debates Lisandro Martinez's public criticism of Man Utd and the club's squad, recruitment, Michael Carrick's pressure and season outlook.

The panel discusses whether Martinez was right to speak out and what is really wrong at Man Utd. They mostly agree his criticism has merit but should not have been said publicly, while blaming poor recruitment, a weak defensive structure and midfield problems. They also predict Tottenham may finish above Man Utd and say expectations and squad quality are holding the club back.

► Subscribe to Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWSkySportsYT The Soccer Saturday panel give their thoughts on the current situation at Old Trafford following Lisandro Martinez's outburst in Madrid. SkySportsNews SkySports ManchesterUnited ► For the latest developments on this story: https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/topstories ► For the latest transfer news: https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/TransferCentre More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf ► Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL ► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub ► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsnews ► X: https://x.com/SkySportsNews ► Website: https://www.skysports.com ► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here: https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/31754/11434270/license-sky-sports-footage

Transcript

Let's move on to another United. We're going to talk about Manchester United who face Leads United at Ellen Road on Super Sunday tomorrow. That is going to be some game. But Mer so much this week dominated by the comments of Landro Martinez after the game. There was also a Snapchat post that went up from Amadalo as well. Uh well, basically saying explicit disgrace. I have no words. We don't know if he's referring to what Martinez said or referring to United's performance. But either way, if you're a player inside that United dress room, whether you agree with what Martinez said or not, what are you thinking when you see a player like that going public? >> Uh, if I'm if I'm Bruno Fernandez, I'm I'm laughing. If I'm one of the new signings, I'd be fuming. >> I'd be fuming. But if I was one of the season pros who've been there, I'd be thinking, you know, it's what what I'd want to be saying myself if if I'm being honest. It hasn't been great, but you just can't say it. You can't say it. But he's got to be fronted up uh by the other the other players, but they haven't performed, the other players, the ones who have come in. But that's where Man United are at the moment. Man United are in at buying players. You know, you look at Man City and they're buying Elliot and some men, people like that, proven Premier League players that have done well. You know, they're buying players that, you know, Santos couldn't get in the Chelsea team. They're buying him for 50 million. He's got to come in and start running the show at Man United. Big ask. You know, I'm a bit disappointed with Tielemans at the moment. I thought he would be better, but they are in that that heads or tail situation. They buy a player, flick it up, heads is good. Tails he's not. And and that's not a way for Man United to get out of it. But I understand where he's coming from, but he can't say it. He can't say it. >> Emma, thank you. So busy start already in the goal zone. We're going to continue our chat on Manchester United. Continue to pick up on what Landre Martinez had to say midweek after that defeat in Madrid. I mean, picking up on what Mercer said, they're Clinton. United where United are at right now, they're eighth in the recent Deote list of of rich clubs. They've gone far down the pecking order. They are quite simply not the club they once were. Does his criticism have merit or not for you? >> No, I think he has merit. I think he's speaking for a lot of the players and the fans were happy. If you if you see it, fans are happy that he's come out, but he can't do that. Do your job first. If Bruno Fernandez comes out and says it, and I know he hasn't been in good form recently, I understand it, but he's got to do his job. >> Because the undercurrent of it is, aside from players like Fernandez, the others aren't good enough. So, if you're a player in training the next day, you going up to him and saying, "Well, who do you think isn't good enough?" >> Yeah. Yeah. Of course, you you would probably call him out because he's probably saying, um, the new players that are coming, oh, they're not good. They're not good enough. But then, listen, it's it's a difficult situation. And I just feel and I said it in midweek, Man United have spent bad and now they're getting punished now over the years. They've not brought in enough quality and they've spent big money. They can't shop. They were interested in Tonali and Fernandez who went to Tottenham. They couldn't have been they weren't prepared to go and pay a hundred million on one player. So then they went and bought Tielemans. They bought Santos who weren't good enough for Chelsea and that is where Man United are now. That would never have been that years ago um with Man United. I just feel after you lose to Atletico Madrid and I get the tensions are running high and what Martinez said, yeah, a lot of the fans will say he's right. You cannot you can't come out and say that. And yeah, we do want players to be honest and upfront when they come out after, but you can't go and attack the hierarchy just like that. Especially when you concede the goal you did against Tottenham on the weekend when you weren't strong enough. Silanki scores the equalizer. But he's come out, he said it, he said sorry, and he's still in the squad. I I am surprised cuz I thought he would get punished but he's obviously they've just pushed that to the side and now you can concentrate on leaving got a plethora of options. >> No, they haven't. But what they said, what he said was right was probably right, but you just can't come out and say that. >> Tim, what has changed from last season? Because when Carrie comes in on an interim basis, remember that game against City, he gets them firing from the off. They finish with European football once again where many would believe this club belong. But at the start of this season, it's a very very different story. >> Yeah. >> What's changed? >> I think they need to needed to be freshened up. You need to start from the back really. You know, you you build a house from from the floor upwards. You know, you don't put the roof on first and they decided to to put the windows in, which is the midfield. And and they bought poorly in that in that regard. But I just think the centers are key. I don't think the centers are good enough. I'm not they're not being asked to play in the correct way as well. I think they're far too deep no matter what the personnel is. And people might say, "Yeah, but if you're playing Harry Mcguire, you're gonna have to defend very deep." Well, you're not actually because some of the best teams in the world, you know, defend on the halfway line even if they can't run. >> It's thin, isn't it? When you look at the squad depth in that defense. >> Yeah. I mean, look, the reason Martin is with with them comments. The reason he's playing in a Man United shirt is because they have they're not the same as a recruitment as they are previously because he'll be nowhere near it, mate. Nowhere near a Man United shirt. He shouldn't be he shouldn't be anywhere near a Man United shirt, but he is. And that just shows you how they've been, how their recruitment's been over the years. But they're fishing in a different market now. They used to go and handpick the best players from all over the Premier League. They say, "We'll take you. You're the best player. We're going to move you. We're going to bring you to Man United cuz we're the best. We're the greatest. We're the richest club in the league." They're not any longer. They need to get back to that. But how are they going to get back to that? They got to build slowly. But they have to build from the back. Build some foundations first. Keep some clean sheets and give that midfield a chance. you know, the likes of Tielemans and Kobe Mayu. I felt for him. You know, I I'm a midfield player. I could no one could play in there. You could put two Elliot Andersons in there who's the fittest player in the world. You couldn't they wouldn't be able to cover that ground. You're asking players to cover too much ground left, right, forward, backwards. It's impossible for anyone. I don't care who the personnel is in there. If you're going to play that way and you're going to play deep, stick another midfield player in there. Not a Bruno Fernandez who wants to stay up off the front man, which you haven't got. So, lot of problems there. Looks to me when I look into Michael Carrick's eyes and I see him on it, he looks tired, but it's obvious when you lose football matches, you do feel tired, believe me. Uh, a lot of pressure on him. Biggest club in the world. >> I think if he got the if his phone run and they removed him of his position, I think he'd be relieved. >> Do you think? Honestly. Honestly, I think he'd be relieved. He'd be disappointed. Twing of disappointment, >> but can he see it getting any better? I watched that game last week against Tottenham and they were very very poor. Tottenham will finish above them and that's coming from a team that hasn't won yet in the Premier League. They look a more structured side. They look like a team with more idea. They haven't got a world-class player and Bruno Fernandez is that world-class player. He's pulled them out time and time again over the years. He's not done it this year. The only reason they might finish above Tottenham is if he pulls them to a position where they shouldn't be. Otherwise, Tottenham will finish above them because they've got the extra games in in Champions League as well. I don't mean they got a squad to be able to cope. I really don't. >> And is that in a nutshell, Merse, without being too simplistic, the big problem here? Because last season, Bruno Fernandez absolute top of his game, but in so many ways covered up the big cracks below. >> Yeah, 100%. He polyfiller. Absolutely. He he he was the one he he he he was a one-man team last year. Nearly literally a one-man team. his his his play, everything about him was good last year. He's another year older now and the team was struggling and and that's what happens. You know, one player, especially with him with the form, I said it last week on it. I think they're one of the worst teams in the Premier League without the ball, if not the worst team. And that's not good enough. You know, they don't go and close down as a team. You know, if one don't go, that's it. It all ends. And for me, I they're struggling at the moment. They are really struggling. Oh, yeah. I agree. I agree with Tim. I I I I think Tottenham will finish above Man United at the moment the way it's going. But a couple results here and there, you never know. But I think they need a response this weekend. Otherwise, I think this is going to get a little bit horrible. >> And Clinton, when you look at Fernandez's drop off there, okay, we're early into the season, but do you sense perhaps he he'd grown a little bit tired, maybe has grown tired, have been the one whose performance is consistently linked to whether this team performs well or not? Yeah, we want to be the main man, but you can't always have it falling on the same man. >> No, it can't always fall on Bruno Fernandez. I I think he likes being the main man. He looks like he's that kind of character. >> But at some point, you're going to look at your other teammates say, "Come on." >> Yeah. Other people have to step Man United football club. So, you have to step up to the mark. But this is obviously Bruno Fernandez last year. He was on a different level. Bruno, the amount of assists, it's a good finish from Cesco. But yeah, he had the most assists and everything. He was fantastic. That's why he got player of the year cuz those levels that he was doing, he dragged Man United to finish third. He dragged them like single-handedly he dragged them in my opinion to finish um third in the Premier League. And he's and anyone will tell you a player is not going to be on that kind of level throughout his career non-stop. And it has been difficult for Bruno um Fernandez this season, but last season I thought he was outstanding. But other players have to start stepping up at that football club. If Man United want to get out of the trouble, they're in at this moment in time. And there was a lot of talk, Tim, particularly after the game last week against Tottenham Hospitals about the number of United players walking, the lack of running in this side, the lack of intensity as well. If you're walking in to that United dressing room right now, >> how do you refine that intensity? Is it possible with the players that Carrick has at his disposal to find some legs and intensity? >> I don't know any stats, but look, they they've worked hard to try and produce them, so we'll give it some credence. >> Spent four days preparing it. >> Four days. But what I would say s I I'd like to measure it and I did it when when I was manager and I and I also did it on a development phase especially in the midfield areas. I look from it from midfield players. It's impossible to cover them distance at high intensity when they're so great. If the ball gets passed past you defensively and someone receives it 10 yards away from you. You're going to sprint back. If they're actually 40 yards for you to go, your head starts wobbling all over the place and you pretend you're tired. But the Man United players run quicker towards the opposition goal because they're getting the glory. They unfortunately you got to do the horrible work as well. You're going to have to put the ugly stuff in. So, it's not just about running as as far as possible. I'll tell you I'll tell you a good example of this. When Jose Mourinho was a manager of Chelsea, they run the least when they won the Premier League. They run the least. And I think it was a Sha Dish Burnley side who run the most who got relegated. So it just that tells you everything. It's not all about running. It's about where your structure of your team is. But for me, the big problem is where Michael Carrick is asking them center to play. They are deep. They're so deep. It's hard for any players in that midfield. No matter what the characteristics of that midfield is to get in contention and but a mindset is, you're absolutely right and that graphic says there. They're not running quick enough towards their own goal to do the ugly stuff out of possession. So it's a big problem. He's got a huge problem on his hands and he's going to a team like leads to Ellen Road which is going to be a very obviously we know the emotion of that game as well. I'm not sure possibly it might be the game they need you know to give them the platform to move on but it's it's a horrible one >> and and whoever's in charge managerial wise at the moment worse it's the same set of problems they'll be dealing with is the same frustrations with the transfer policy. It's the same frustrations with the defense and the lack of legs in the midfield and the reports. yesterday that Antonio Conte's representatives have said he would be interested were the job to become available. But whoever would to step into those shoes next if they were to make a change, it's the same set of problems and they just continue to go round and round in circles. Nothing changes surely until stuff behind the scenes begins to change. >> No, because every time someone goes in, we're still talking about the team of Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo and people like that. What's that 13 14 years ago? So you're going in with the expect expectation is so high that they got to perform and it ain't they're not a good enough team for me. I had them down this season as sixth in the league. I had them down as six. I think if they come six I think they pulled up trees but this is Manchester United. You know the one of the biggest clubs in the world, nowhere near the biggest team in the world, one of the biggest clubs. But that's the problem. It's the expectations are going to kill the managers. It's, you know, every time you go in, they expect you to be winning the Premier League. >> But how much longer can we still talk about them being one of the biggest clubs in the world? >> Well, they are one of the biggest clubs in the world. That's facts. That is fact. You go anywhere around the world, everybody's got a Man United shirt and you never get away from that. Real Madrid, Man United in my opinion. >> But young kids now are surely not looking, you know, given what we've seen over the last thinking, I'm going to support them. >> Yeah. And that's the problem they're having now cuz around the world in other countries these kids growing up that they they go and support the team. They follow winners don't. Yeah, of course they do. And then they they stay with that team and you know you look at Man United fans. Man United fans are older older people. Do you know what I mean? 2025 and older. >> Very diplomatic. M. >> No but but it is it's you know people started supporting Man City in Africa and China and and Australia. Well, it's only because they're winning games every week and they're winning games. So, and that's the problem and because Man United have gone that long without now then that and that's all a knock- on effect and then shirts don't get sold and then before you know it it's it's just a knock-on effect for for me it's the expectation. You can put Angelotti in there, he'll steady the ship but he ain't winning you the league but he will steady the ship. And is that good enough for Man United? No, I don't think it is.