Lisandro Martinez: Manchester United defender condemned for costly red card

Lisandro Martinez made his way to the tunnel slowly and silently.

The whistles and jeers of the Chelsea fans were ringing in his ears. Manchester United coach Jonny Evans had a brief word, but Martinez didn't pay any attention.

As a player, Martinez has scaled the heights. He was part of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup in 2022 and reached the final last summer.

But at Stamford Bridge, when Michael Carrick needed his side to step up and his senior players to set an example, Martinez did the very opposite.

Eighteen days after Martinez called out United's summer recruitment, he suffered the kind of meltdown that would have left most United fans questioning whether that poor business involved not turfing the 28-year-old out of Old Trafford.

The former Ajax defender had been part of a much-improved United performance at Chelsea, and Carrick's team should have been ahead at half-time.

Even when Morgan Rogers gave the hosts a second-half lead, they had done enough for the visiting fans to believe a comeback was possible.

Instead, in the space one minute and 23 seconds, Martinez committed two fouls that left Carrick's side 2-0 down and playing with 10 men - with Chelsea subsequently cruising to victory .

However this woeful period unfolds, it is unlikely Martinez's recklessness will be forgotten.

It was noticeable that Carrick did not look at Martinez as he made his way off the pitch.

He was more focused on trying to come up with a plan with his assistant Steve Holland to get through the rest of the game.

Asked afterwards if he felt let down by Martinez, Carrick said he had not had a chance to view the incident again.

"I've not seen it back, so I don't know if it was or not," adding: "It's a big moment in the game."

Carrick continued: "The second goal and losing a man at that stage had a big influence on it, for sure."

For context, Martinez - already on a booking - chose the moment Estevao swung over the corner to try to block off Wesley Fofana at the far post.

In the process, he raised his elbow and caught the defender in the face. The incident was missed in real time but video assistant referee (VAR) James Bell advised referee Peter Bankes to go to the screen and the obvious conclusion was reached.

World Cup final official Darren Cann called Martinez's actions "inexplicable".

"He jumped into him, making no attempt to play the ball and not even looking at the ball as it came in from the corner," Cann told BBC Sport.

"Martinez was rightly sent off for two bookable offences, as well as conceding a needless penalty for the reckless challenge on Fofana."

Chelsea beat 10-man Man Utd to heap further pressure on Carrick

'You can't have a liability in your team'

United avoided the ignominy of a third successive three-goal defeat for the first time since 1961 thanks to a very tight VAR decision that ruled out Estevao's effort for offside.

Martinez will now be suspended for next Sunday's Premier League match with Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

"At 1-0 down, United are still in a decent position," former England and Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport. "You're still in the game.

"At 2-0 and down to 10 men, effectively the game is over.

"If the player sent off holds his hands up and says 'sorry, boys, I've let you down' it can diffuse the situation but the issue is that Martinez is making mistake after mistake at the moment."

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole was rather blunter on TNT Sports.

"In a Man Utd shirt, he's just at the scene of the crime too often," he said. "Whatever the next Man Utd phase is, I think Martinez's time at the club has run its course."

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy was equally scathing on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Lisandro Martinez has got a lot to answer to, because the first goal was mainly his fault. The sending-off is absolutely ridiculous," said Murphy.

"Obviously, he is going to apologise in the dressing room, but his mindset is not right to play. You can't rely on him. He is a liability."

Asked whether he would play Martinez again, Murphy added: "No, I wouldn't, only because he looks like he has already gone. His head isn't right. He is not going to be there long term, that is evident.

"Michael has got to make some big decisions. You can't have a liability in your team. That petulance, that behaviour on the pitch is not acceptable.

"He has been poor for a while and he has had injury problems. He is not the answer."

If Martinez's actions were inexcusable, the reality is United were losing when they were reduced to 10 men.

For that, there has to be a large dollop of sympathy for Carrick.

In the first-half, United were far better than they had been in three-goal losses to Como and Bournemouth. They were determined, concentrated, and focused. Sadly for Carrick, they weren't clinical.

Four excellent opportunities came and went. Bruno Fernandes and Amad both blazed off target when they should have done much better.

Chelsea keeper Mike Penders made two excellent saves. Even in the latter stages, Bryan Mbeumo's blistering shot couldn't find its way in.

On the bench, Carrick must have wondered if his luck will ever change.

Instead, United are nine games without a win in all competitions. It is their worst run since 1988-89.

They are teetering on the brink of dropping into the relegation zone for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson's early days and on Tuesday welcome Serie A outfit Roma to Old Trafford knowing they need a win to keep their Champions League qualification hopes realistic.

Pre-match, the expectation had been Carrick would be in charge for that.

"There's no words I'm going to explain to you now that makes any difference," he said. "It's not going to change it. We've got to move forward and win football matches, it's as simple as that.

"The way they went about it and played, the quality of football and the way we played in the first half definitely gives encouragement, and we've got to take that."

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