Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have invited criticism from sections of the Manchester United fanbase after the pair appeared to mock Lisandro Martinez’s ability to deal with Erling Haaland ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby.
The former United midfielders were speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast as they discussed United’s chances against Manchester City, who visit Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Comedian and United supporter Paddy McGuinness suggested the side could benefit from a bounce under Michael Carrick, saying: ‘You know that new manager lift? I can see United beating City.’
Scholes agreed, adding: ‘I could see them beating City with Amorim. I don’t think they (City) are anywhere near where they have been.
‘They’re amazing standards to get to, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something about them, I still don’t think they’re quite right.’
Butt then raised concerns about United’s defensive options, particularly in dealing with Haaland, who has scored 20 goals in 21 games this season.
Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have invited criticism from sections of the Manchester United fanbase after the pair appeared to mock Lisandro Martinez’s ability to deal with Erling Haaland
Butt and Scholes claimed that Haaland would be able to ‘pick Martinez up and run with him’
‘I think if United get the injuries back – as in Maguire, De Ligt and them kind of players – then we’ve got a chance,’ Butt said. ‘But I just feel with the younger players, they’ve done brilliantly – Heaven’s been unbelievable to be fair – but I wouldn’t like to see them against Haaland.’
Scholes interjected: ‘Martinez against Haaland,’ before wincing.
Butt continued: ‘Haaland would pick Martinez up and run with him. You know when you see a dad at school running down the road with a little toddler.’
Scholes laughed and added: ‘He’d score then throw him in the net.’
The remarks have sparked backlash on social media, with some supporters accusing the former players of showing a lack of respect towards the World Cup-winning centre-back, who has been a key figure in United’s defence in recent seasons.
One fan wrote: ‘This is so bad coming from the so called legends, how do you mock a player like this, and even laughing about it, it’s a big shame.’
Others were also quick to point out Martinez’s strong record against Haaland, with the Norwegian failing to net in five of the six games that he has faced him.
One of those encounters came while Martinez was at Ajax against Haaland’s Borussia Dortmund, while the other five have taken place since both players moved to Manchester.
United fans accusing the former players of showing a lack of respect towards Lisandro Martinez, who has been a key figure in United’s defence in recent seasons
Haaland’s only goals in those fixtures came in a single match – City’s 6-3 win against their neighbours during their treble-winning season – with Martinez keeping him quiet in the other five games.
And in terms of win rate, Haaland has won just two of those six meetings, losing the other four.
Another person posted on X: ‘He (Martinez) played against Haaland in the Champions League and won 4-0 when Ajax beat Dortmund, (sic) he played against Haaland in the cup final when Utd won, Haaland didn’t score then either. In 6 games against Martinez, he didn’t score in 5 of them.’
Haaland’s manager Pep Guardiola memorably heaped praise on Martinez’s performance after the 2024 FA Cup final, which United beat City 2-1, calling the Argentine the ‘difference’.
‘Lisandro Martinez is top 5 center-backs on the world,’ Guardiola said at the time. ‘He made the difference on this game by playing passes through our defence’.
Regardless of what Saturday brings, any meeting between the pair looks set to be a far sterner tussle than Butt and Scholes might have fans believe.
