Michael Carrick has highlighted the importance of Lisandro Martinez above any other Manchester United first-team player in his first two matches in charge at the club.
Lisandro Martinez has been at the heart of Manchester United backline alongside Harry Maguire under the Red Devils tactical formation deployed by Michael Carrick.
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Both Harry Maguire and Martinez started and played the full 90 minutes of Man Utd’s sensational 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Argentina star Martinez was at fault for Arsenal’s first-half opener against United in the Red Devils’ Premier League match at the Emirates last Sunday evening.
However, the 28-year-old World Cup winner still put in a strong showing overall, with Man Utd coming from behind against Arsenal to clinch a stunning 3-2 win.
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Lisandro Martinez reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Michael Carrick singles out Lisandro Martinez amid the massive shift at Man Utd under his reign
Lisandro Martinez has talked up Michael Carrick and the impact that the 44-year-old Manchester United legend has already had on the Old Trafford dressing room.
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Carrick spoke to the press on Friday afternoon at the Carrington training complex ahead of Man Utd’s return to Premier League action at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The United interim head coach insisted that Martinez is an example of the three important qualities that he has wanted to shine through under his direction.
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“You have got to play with feeling, emotion, excitement,” he said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“It is something we speak about. The tactical and technical side is one thing, but what we have just touched on is totally something else.
“The boys have been there in training and in games, meetings and everything around the place. They have been there in everything we have asked of them, with everything we have asked.”
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Lisandro Martinez is the clear-cut example of what Michael Carrick is looking for from his Man Utd players
Carrick believes that Martinez perfectly sums up the standards that he has expected to see from United first-team players both in training and in matches as well.
“Licha has epitomised that with how he has gone about every day and certainly in the games,” he explained.
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Lisandro Martinez comments made towards Paul Scholes after the Manchester derby.
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Carrick added: “We are aware [of] what it has taken to have the couple of weeks we have had. A couple of weeks is a couple of weeks; it is good, but it is two weeks.
“We are definitely aware [that] it is something we need to extend for longer. We need to respect the game, what it takes to win games, how hard it is and how good a team Fulham are.
“That is definitely at the forefront of our minds.”
United are currently fourth in the Premier League table after Carrick’s men picked up back-to-back wins against Manchester City and Arsenal this month.
The Red Devils and Fulham will now meet in their Premier League match at Old Trafford, with kick-off slated at 2pm UK time.
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