Man Utd have discovered a ‘new Nemanja Vidic’ who Ten Hag can construct defence round
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been informed that he has discovered a brand new model of Nemanja Vidic in Lisandro Martinez. The Argentinian centre-back has been criticised for his pre-season antics and hard tackles on the likes of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, although they’ve been obtained effectively by the Red Devils fanbase.
Martinez clashed with each Bellingham and Saka and it resulted in vitriol on-line, whereas the brand new Real Madrid man squared as much as the 25-year-old in what he later described as a “little tiff”. Typically, pleasant matches are performed with a decrease depth however Martinez didn’t appear to be on the identical wavelength as the remainder of the gamers on the pitch.
Arsenal faced similar accusations themselves from Barcelona boss Xavi, however Martinez was singled out for his behaviour throughout United’s preparation for the brand new Premier League season. Not everybody was outraged, nonetheless, as former United striker Dwight Yorke insisted that his actions are nothing new – Vidic was additionally responsible of treating pre-season in the identical trend.
“Lisandro Martinez is the type of player that plays in the way he trains,” Yorke told OLBG. “The tackle on Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham shows he always plays at a very high intensity, it doesn’t matter if it’s a Premier League game, pre-season or training, he’d put in the same challenge anywhere.
“Nemanja Vidic was that type of player too, he played as he trained. For these kinds of players, there is no ‘half-day’, it’s always full on. Martinez has to be aggressive too because of his size. As great as a footballer and how good in the air he is, the big strikers will be fancying their chances against him.
“If I’m a centre-forward and I’m looking at a centre-back partnership of Tony Adams and Martinez, I’d fancy Martinez. That’s just the nature of football, so Martinez needs to keep that aggression consistent against attackers because of his height.”
Martinez shocked many in his debut season, having been mocked for his top earlier than showcasing why Ten Hag needed to deliver him to the membership from Ajax. He shaped a powerful partnership with Raphael Varane earlier than struggling a damaged metatarsal in February that dominated him out for the rest of the season.
Now with Andre Onana behind them as a substitute of David De Gea, Ten Hag will hope for additional enchancment on the defensive aspect regardless of holding extra clear sheets than any staff within the league final season.
There have been tentative hyperlinks with defenders Benjamin Pavard and Axel Disasi as United proceed to have a look at methods to assist Martinez and co on the again, however they are going to be happy to have a brand new warrior paying homage to Vidic on the coronary heart of the Red Devils’ defence.