JAMIE CARRAGHER has questioned Manchester United’s signing of Lisandro Martinez following the Brentford defeat.
Martinez, 24, joined United in a £55million deal this summer having played under Erik ten Hag for three years at Ajax.
But Carragher believes the Argentine is too short to play as a centre-back in a back four in the Premier League, and claims his lack of height was punished by Brentford.
Ben Mee beat Martinez to a header to score Brentford’s third goal on Saturday and Carragher suggested Premier League teams ought to target Martinez’s small stature.
Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “The signing of Lisandro Martinez is a problem.
“We should never judge managers and players too early… but I’m convinced this cannot work.
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“That’s because he is 5 foot 9, playing in a back four.
“Maybe he could play left back or in a back three – but he cannot play in a back four in the Premier League.
“They are going to have a huge problem with him at centre-back because every single team, maybe bar Man City and Liverpool, should target that. And if they don’t they’re crackers.
“Ten Hag has got his fingerprints over this team and the two or three things he’s influenced at this moment, are not working.”
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Ten Hag has also tried to influence United’s style of play by instrructing his players to pass out from the back.
But the strategy had disastrous consequences against Brentford as Christian Eriksen lost the ball yards from goal following a poor David De Gea pass, which allowed the Bees to score through Mathias Jensen.
Ten Hag hopes to make more signings to implement his ideas and appears to be close to bolstering his midfield options with the addition of former Juventus star Adrien Rabiot, who is available on a free transfer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
