Paul Scholes made comments doubting Lisandro Martinez before the Manchester derby, with the Argentine defender responding after Manchester United's 3-0 win over City
Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United
Martinez isn't happy with Paul Scholes(Image: Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Michael Carrick enjoyed a dream start as Manchester United manager, overseeing a commanding 2-0 victory over local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford. Whilst this provided a welcome boost for the club, the atmosphere in the north west has been fraught with tension and negativity in recent months.
The year began with Ruben Amorim's departure from the managerial position, coming shortly after he publicly criticised those in positions of authority above him. Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer suggested the United squad weren't putting in sufficient effort for Amorim, based on their performance against City at the weekend.
Another figure unafraid to criticise United's players is former midfielder Paul Scholes.
In the lead-up to the derby, Scholes found himself in a war of words with United's Argentine centre-half Lisandro Martinez. Both Scholes and Nicky Butt described the Erling Haaland versus Martinez contest as an uneven match-up.
Scholes grimaced when the pairing was discussed on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast. Butt remarked: "Haaland would pick Martinez up and run with him. You know when you see a dad at school running down the road with a little toddler?" before Scholes interjected: "He'd score, then throw him in the net."
United would ultimately claim a memorable derby triumph with Haaland neutralised throughout. Martinez delivered an outstanding defensive display.
Martinez responded to these remarks in a post-match interview. "Honestly, he [Scholes] can say whatever he wants. I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to wherever he wants," he stated.
"To my house, wherever. I don't care. And I think, for me, I respect the relations when they want to help the club because everyone can talk on the television. But when you sit here face-to-face, no one says anything in your face.
Paul Scholes working as a television pundit for TNT Sports
Paul Scholes agreed to meet a Manchester United player over some criticism he made(Image: Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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"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."
This isn't the first time Scholes has had a disagreement with a current United player. On a previous occasion, an anonymous member of the first team squad requested a private meeting with Scholes.
"Players can be a little bit touchy these days," Scholes admitted on The Overlap in early 2025. "I had a player (a United player), this year, who contacted me and wasn't happy with some of the things I'd said.
"He wanted to meet me at the training ground, and I said, 'Of course, no problem', and gave him my number but he never got back to me. I would have done it.
"If I'm saying things I believe and he wants me to explain why, it wouldn't have been a nice conversation. But I said if they or anyone else has a problem, there's my phone number."
Carrick's next task will be a clash with league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 25 January. Following their triumph over City, United currently sit in fifth place, just one point behind Liverpool.