Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville dropped his two cents on Lisandro Martinez operating in a midfield role for Manchester United in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Lisandro Martinez has been eased back into the Manchester United first-team squad in recent weeks after returning to action from a long-term knee injury.
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However, the 27-year-old Argentine defender stepped up in a major way on Sunday evening after Ruben Amorim deployed him in the two-man midfield at Villa Park.
Martinez came off the bench after the break in United’s Premier League encounter with Villa, with Bruno Fernandes withdrawn from the pitch because of an injury.
The 2022 World Cup winner partnered with Manuel Ugarte in the Red Devils’ pivot and Martinez’s performance had United fans talking a lot during the match.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesWhat Gary Neville noticed from Lisandro Martinez’s midfield display in Man Utd’s Premier League defeat to Aston Villa
Lisandro Martinez looked an assured presence for the Red Devils on Sunday evening, despite Manchester United’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The 27-year-old former Ajax star provided a real alternative pick for United manager Ruben Amorim due to the absences of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo from the match.
Martinez initially played alongside Manuel Ugarte before later sharing a midfield partnership with United debutant Jack Fletcher for the rest of the second half.
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Speaking during United’s contest with Villa at the weekend, Gary Neville instantly noticed how Martinez showed his incredible versatility by playing in midfield.
The 50-year-old United legend singled out how Martinez was not afraid to retrieve the ball from Villa and tried to make an immediate impact from his makeshift role.
“He [Martinez] is enjoying himself in there, he does the first thing well to win the ball, strides forward and hits across it, which means it is moving away from goal,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“United are playing really well and look the more comfortable team in the first 10 minutes of the second half.”
Ruben Amorim’s reaction to Man Utd’s Premier League defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park
Amorim insisted that the Red Devils cannot use a single reason to “excuse” their display against Villa, despite United performing well at Villa Park on Sunday.
“We need to prepare all the guys that we have for the next game,” he told Sky Sports, as per BBC Sport.
“We cannot use anything as an excuse. No-one is going to remember these problems, so let’s cope with that. It will make us stronger.
“I saw from the beginning of the season a team that is going forward, but sometimes relax a little bit and sometimes is not there in the right moment to fight.
“Today was completely the opposite, we were the better team against a team that is strong at home and in a very good run. We were really unlucky today.”
United are currently seventh in the Premier League table and the Red Devils are 10 points adrift from third-place Villa after their setback at the weekend.
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