Lisandro Martinez should never play for Manchester United again because he has already checked out, according to former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy. The Argentina international was sent off in United's 2-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday after picking up two quickfire yellow cards.
Red card and penalty prove decisive
Martinez was shown a second yellow after catching Wesley Fofana in the face with his arm while trying to defend a corner. He plodded off the pitch before Cole Palmer beat Senne Lammens from the penalty spot to put the game beyond the away side.
United now sit just above the Premier League relegation zone, having gone nine games without a win in all competitions. Martinez was fined by United earlier in October after openly criticising the club's hierarchy following a defeat by Atletico Madrid.
Murphy calls for Martinez to be dropped
Murphy believes that his attitude and dreadful performances should see him dropped for good. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "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."
He added: "You have to put the club first. Michael has got to make some big decisions. You can't have a liability in your team. People talked about [Cristian] Romero for years, and it is turning into that a little bit. 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."
Murphy continued: "Got to be of a positive mindset, and you have got to keep going. That first half was really good, they set up well, they made chances and looked like a team again. Lisandro Martinez has got a lot to answer too, because the first goal was mainly his fault. The sending off is absolutely ridiculous. 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."
Cole agrees and Carrick stays silent
Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole made a similar point after the final whistle. "In a Man United shirt, he's just at the scene of the crime too often," he said on TNT Sports. "Whatever the next Man United phase is, I think Martinez's time at the club has run its course."
The 28-year-old defender joined United in 2022 from Ajax under the management of Erik ten Hag. He has made 120 appearances for the club, but appears set to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Carrick did not look at his defender when he left the pitch, with Jonny Evans escorting him down the tunnel, but refused to criticise Martinez when asked about the red card. "I've not seen it back, so I don't know if it was or not," he said. "It's a big moment in the game."
The United boss then added: "The second goal and losing a man at that stage had a big influence on it, for sure."
