Remember the days of Nemanja Vidic? The Serbian defender who swiftly catapulted himself to become one of Premier League’s most accomplished centre-back during his successful eight year spell at Manchester United. The defender who took no prisoners, who possessed a warrior-like, and bullish personality and characteristics on the football pitch alongside the more calm and assurance of Rio Ferdinand.
But more crucially, the defender who because of his unique nature on the pitch, his bravery, courage and tenacity quickly became one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most pivotal figures during a four-year spell which bore three Premier League titles, a Champions League triumph, and two League Cup triumphs.
How the Red Devils have lacked a player possessing similar qualities despite the club’s tumultuous and pricey attempts trying to find the ideal Vidic-like solution. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire are players who have been tried across five managerial spells, costing the club a hefty £160m, but relatively failed to live up to the billing.
Only the latter two of those players still remain at Old Trafford, with their long-term futures under new manager Erik ten Hag, in jeopardy.
The former Ajax coach has overseen something of a much needed major rebuild in the red half of Manchester, upon his arrival in May. Out went high-profile figures such as Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata, while the 52-year-old managed to recruit the likes of Antony, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia intentionally looking to transform the team into his image.
And with his team in desperate need of a major surgery and yet another investment within his ailing defensive setup, the £57m investment of Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, a few months on from his arrival between the Carrington revolving doors, looks to be the most shrewdest signing the Old Trafford hierarchy have made over the past decade.
The signing of the Argentinian in comparison to all the past aforementioned recruits held a unique facet to it, one which the club criminally failed to identify as a real pressing need when locating a balance in their defending and that’s the signing of a left-footed centre-back. Out of the four managerial appointments, the club needed a coach with no Premier League experience or widespread European pedigree to his belt, yet, to both identify and address an area that required an urgent solution.
Indeed, Martinez’ short time in Manchester hasn’t been without it’s caveats from the English media. Unfortunate performances against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford in Manchester United’s first two league fixtures led many to question whether the Argentinian possessed the required standing, literally due to his 5ft 9in height, and presence to become an elite-level Premier League centre-back.
A few months on, and Manchester United fans can finally argue that the club have finally found their answer to the next Nemanja Vidic.
During the 24-year-old’s three years in Amsterdam, he excelled tremendously as a result of his brashness and aggression in defending, his superb reading of the game, tactical versatility and unique qualities in possession. In his three months as a Red Devil, Martinez has so far provided all of those characteristics while rapidly improving the United backline.
Certainly, he’s been involved in hefty defeats to both Brentford and Manchester City, conceding 10 goals but that can be put down to United’s weaknesses as a defensive unit rather than individualistic limitations. Other than that, the Argentinian has aided Erik ten Hag’s side in keeping five clean sheets so far this campaign, that’s the joint-second best in the Premier League.
Pretty impressive considering Manchester United have been largely criticised for their lapses in concentration and huge weaknesses at the back this calendar year. The former Ajax man has so far formed an excellent defensive partnership with Raphael Varane, whilst also improving those alongside him in Ten Hag’s defensive setup.
More crucially, the £57m man has brought an aggression, and tenacious edge to a defence that has looked soft against even the so called “smaller sides” in the division and lacked a bite and resilience in halting attacks. Lisandro Martinez is a leaders’ leader, one who has brought so much character, voice and leadership to the United squad, making others around him look even better. Does that remind you of a defender who once represented the famous badge?
His performances during Manchester United’s Europa League campaign has particularly been pleasing, with the 24-year-old registering 84.2 touches and making 2.6 tackles per match, while also displaying his physicality and tremendous reading of the game by winning 72% of his total duels. He’s translating that in the English top flight too, taking 66.6 touches per game, averaging 1.8 tackles and winning 61% of his total duels at a rate of 3.8 per game.
It’s evidently clear that the Gualeguay-born workhorse is a defensive machine, exerting his dominance against even the biggest of forwards, but no one amongst the United defence can claim to possess Martinez’ unique weaponry in progressive passing. Within Ten Hag’s preferred style in building from the back, with patient and potent passing moves, Martinez excels in abundance.
He is a forward-thinking and proactive defender but also a brave and courageous one when trying to find players in dangerous pockets of space ranking in the 94th percentile for progressive passes per match (4.13) compared to positional peers in Europe’s big five leagues whilst also ranking in the 91st percentile for passes completed per 90, and this ball-playing ability allows United to expertly begin attacks from the defensive third of the pitch.
In the past month or so, it seems as if the players are finally getting to grips with what Ten Hag requires of them and there is a case to suggest that possessing a player who already knows how the manager thinks has been a huge help, and that player is Lisandro Martinez. There’s also a case to argue that the Argentine defender has been United’s best performing player so far this campaign.
He’s already a fan favourite, a cult hero amongst the Old Trafford faithful and that was evident during their latest win over West Ham United. Martinez certainly went to war, battled hard and again showed just how much of an impact he’s made to the Manchester United defence. And he didn’t have Raphael Varane alongside him, but the struggling Harry Maguire.
At times during the encounter with the Hammers, Martinez looked like he’d been at Old Trafford for all of four years and Maguire, a new signing still trying to get to grips with the pace of the Premier League. The “Argentinian Butcher” has he is regularly called bailed out his partner on so many occasions, and considering the lack of a quality back up in Ten Hag’s defensive section, United simply cannot afford a Martinez injury, neither can Argentina by the looks of it.
It was his all-round game on the night which caught the eye. The final moments of the 1-0 triumph were indeed a scrap, pivotal moments in which United were walking a tightrope, requiring a doggedness and resilience that had failed them for much of the past year. Martínez was at the heart of it, his teammates following the demanding standards set by the Argentinian. He was rewarded with a boot to the face for his efforts from Gianluca Scamacca.
Martínez is the type of defender fans enjoy watching, throwing himself into every tackle but it’s even more glorious to see a perfectly timed challenge resulting in an opponent being brought down as part of the tackle, and the former Ajax defender has mastered that art. The 24-year-old constantly sets the tone, sets an example and a huge standard for his teammates to follow. Ten Hag’s lieutenant on the pitch, but also the Dutchman’s tactical mind also.
His numbers throughout the whole scrap with such a spirited West Ham side highlights his telling contribution, an extremely pivotal one winning all four of his ground duels, registering three ball recoveries, three clearances, two tackles won and winning 3/4 aerial duels. Whoever said he can’t become a force in the air in the Premier League. The 24-year-old is expertly silencing those doubters.
When in possession he is efficient, as evidenced through his 79 touches and 92% pass accuracy with 58 passes completed. He is so reliable, so effective when on the ball, you’d be forgiven to mistake him with an orchestra conductor. That’s the kind of player and character he is.
But he is also a reliable cleaner, covering for his team mates mess with no fuss at all. As early as the second minute he was straight into the action when the tricky Saïd Benrahma was played through on goal in the left-hand channel behind Harry Maguire. Martínez swiftly spotted the danger and moved into the vacant space to hold up Benrahma, forcing him into a weak shot that was blocked.
Martinez dealt with both Scamacca and the more physically imposing Michail Antonio tremendously well. He may be short in stature, but he’s perfected the art in dealing with more taller opponents, using his body and positioning to prevent them getting to the ball. With all of just under 15 minutes left, it looked as if Craig Dawson – a constant menace from attacking set pieces – would tower over Martinez to head an equaliser at the back post, only for him to get to the ball first.
United have conceded just twice in their past five league games since shipping six at Manchester City. Goals win matches but defences win titles as famously stated by the great Sir Alex Ferguson and United finally have a backline that can bring confidence to the rest of the team. You always need grit and aggression when heading into a scrap, and Martinez is one player always ready and willing to go to battle. Like Vidic to Sir Alex, Martinez is again quickly becoming the rock and foundation on which Ten Hag is firmly building his Manchester United legacy.
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