Lisandro Martinez reacted angrily when told about Paul Scholes' and Nicky Butt's comments ahead of the Manchester derby and Roy Keane has also been criticised for some of his remarks
Paul Scholes working as a television pundit for TNT Sports
Paul Scholes is one of the ex-United pundits coming under fire for their criticism of the current team(Image: Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Whether supporters of other clubs like it or not, Manchester United is one of football’s most famous institutions. It is one of only a handful of clubs that can be classed as global phenomenons.
Interest in the fortunes of United, however positive or negative, is huge. They are a dominant narrative in football news.
In the context of the achievements of many big clubs, United’s performances have not been great over the past decade or so, but they have not been disastrous. Their average finishing position in the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left has been between fifth and sixth and they have won a couple of FA Cups, the EFL Cup twice and a Europa League.
Decent … for a normal club. But it is United and so there are special demands, hence the weight of critical comment.
And a lot of that critical comment comes from ex-United players, who, it seems, have a prominent role in media punditry. There is a simple reason for that.
They are ex-United players. They played for the famous institution. They know what it is like. That is why their views are in demand.
Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney. Their views are sought out by the media because they have played prominent roles in the club’s history - it really is as simple as that.
Roy Keane in the TV studio
Roy Keane has been critical of the appointment of Manchester United's coaching staff(Image: )
View 3 Images
In the case of Scholes and Nicky Butt, you could add that they are also fans of the club. But now, it seems, a lot of opinion - certainly on social media - is turning against the swathe of former Old Trafford favourites who have been less than complimentary about United.
If it is a shift in attitude, it has probably been hastened by Keane’s comments about the Michael Carrick appointment and by the Scholes and Butt digs at Lisandro Martinez, to which the defender duly responded after his fine contribution to United’s derby win. The Scholes and Butt comments were a bit immature - and subsequently proven to be ill-advised - but they were hardly vicious.
Martinez was entitled to respond and did so in a nicely pointed manner. It was good knockabout stuff.
But the serious element in the Martinez comments was him saying that when it came to critical comments from ex-players, he is not bothered either way. That is exactly the way it should be. Criticism does not motivate him, nor does it demoralise him.
Man Utd defender Lisandro Martinez taps his shirt
Lisandro Martinez reacted angrily to negative comments from Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt(Image: )
View 3 Images
Ex-players should be allowed to say exactly what they want. This is not North Korea. What do we want the likes of Keane, Scholes and Butt to be? Cheerleaders?
Gary Neville does some of that and he also does a lot of the critical stuff. And that is fine. If these guys are happy when United win and are annoyed when they lose, fine.
They are ex-players, they have a strong connection with the club. Most of them are fans. To the many who are not United fans, it can become grating, for sure.
But it should have no negative effect on the team. Because, seriously, if you let the paid-for jibes of a few pundits damage your game - and Martinez clearly didn’t, by the way - you don’t belong at Manchester United.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image