"If He Wants To Say Something To Me, He Can Come To My House”—Lisandro Martínez responds to Paul Scholes criticism after Manchester United beat Man City
Manchester United defender responds to Paul Scholes criticism after dominant display as Michael Carrick’s side beat Man City 2-0 at Old Trafford
Lisandro Martínez had heard the jokes. Before the Manchester derby, clips were doing the rounds of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt laughing about what Erling Haaland would supposedly do to the Manchester United defender.
Scholes puffed out his cheeks in mock despair when Martínez’s name came up, suggesting the contest would be hopelessly one-sided. Butt joined in, claiming Haaland would “pick Martínez up and run with him”, before Scholes added that the City striker would “score and then throw him in the net”.
Pathetic from Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.
THIS is not constructive criticism. It’s not even criticism. It’s pointlessly jabbing at one of United’s most important players ahead of a huge game on Saturday.
(In 6 matches vs Martinez, Haaland has failed to score in 5 of them)… pic.twitter.com/ROLyc3qYv5
— Alex Turk (@TurkTalksFC) January 15, 2026
It was the sort of criticism Martínez has grown used to since arriving in England. But by full-time at Old Trafford, it was Scholes’ comments that looked wildly off the mark.
Martínez, alongside Harry Maguire, delivered a commanding defensive performance as United beat Manchester City 2-0, with Haaland so well contained that Pep Guardiola withdrew him late in the game. For a striker who has terrorised Premier League defences since arriving in England, it was a rare afternoon of frustration.
Martínez answers his critics on the pitch
Martínez did not hold back when asked about the comments from former United players after the game. The Argentine defender made it clear that talk from television studios means very little to him.
“Honestly, he can say whatever he wants,” Martínez said. “I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don’t care.
“Everyone can talk on the television, but when you sit face to face, no one says anything in your face. So for me, I don’t really care what they say.”
Instead, Martínez insisted his focus remains firmly on his performances and his commitment to the club.
“I just put the focus on my performance, the performance of the team, and I give everything to this club until my last day.”
His words reflect a growing feeling within the United dressing room that criticism from former players has gone beyond healthy debate and, at times, has become unfair. That sense of togetherness was clear in the way United approached the derby.
A defensive display that set the tone
From the first whistle, United played with aggression and confidence. They pressed City high, disrupted their rhythm and defended with discipline. Martínez and Maguire were central to that approach.
Haaland, usually so dominant in physical duels, was limited to scraps. City struggled to supply him, but when the ball did reach him, Martínez was quick, brave and uncompromising. Maguire provided cover, winning aerial battles and stepping out decisively.
City managed very little in front of goal, a rare sight for a side known for control and chance creation. Martínez later pointed out that City barely tested United’s goal, a statistic that underlined the scale of the defensive effort.
Carrick’s immediate impact
Before the goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed the win, Roy Keane had questioned the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim head coach. By the end of the afternoon, those doubts looked misplaced.
Carrick set up a side that looked organised, motivated and confident. United threatened regularly on the counter-attack and never appeared overawed by the occasion.
Martínez was quick to highlight the change in atmosphere since Carrick’s arrival, describing a clear shift in mentality after a difficult period under Ruben Amorim.
“So different, so different,” Martínez said. “Different mentality, different guy. He knows what it really means, this club.
“He sent us that message that he played here for a long, long time. He won everything. He’s a big legend. He wants to help the club.”
The defender explained how Carrick’s understanding of Manchester United’s identity had already filtered through the squad.
“When you have a coach like Michael Carrick, who really knows and can share the energy of the club and what it means, it’s so different.”
Setting a new standard
Despite the celebrations at Old Trafford, Martínez was keen to stress that this performance should not be seen as a one-off. For him, this is the level United must reach consistently.
“Today is the standard for this club,” he said. “It’s about the connection. It’s about how we represent the fans on the pitch.
“If they see us fighting like today, they will be with us.”
Martínez spoke about the importance of unity, both within the team and with the supporters, describing a feeling that United had rediscovered something important.
“You can feel the mentality. You can feel something different. I’m so happy. I feel amazing.”
For a player often labelled as too small or too aggressive for English football, Martínez delivered a reminder that heart, intelligence and bravery matter just as much as size. Against the most feared striker in the league, he stood tall.
And on this occasion, it was the football, not the talk, that did the answering.
