PETER SCHMEICHEL has slammed Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez for “trying to be a hero” during United’s 3-1 loss to Brighton yesterday.
The defeat at Old Trafford is United’s second on the bounce and comes amid a mounting list of problems for manager Erik Ten Hag away from the field.
United have slid to 13th in the Premier League standings after a start that has seen them lose three times in their opening five Premier League games.
Former United striker Danny Welbeck put Brighton 1-0 up after 20 minutes before strikes from Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro had the Seagulls coasting at the Theatre of Dreams.
Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri scored a consolation goal for the Red Devils but Ten Hag was far from pleased after the match as he slammed his team’s “individuals that need to step up”.
Schmeichel, who won five Premier League titles and a Champions League at United, singled out centre-back Martinez for criticism after the game and said the Argentine should have done better on Brighton’s second goal.
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The former goalkeeper told Premier League Productions: “It is kind of what happens at Manchester United at the minute, it is very individual.
“Players, for instance, Martinez here, are trying to be a hero and get in and block.
“People know this. If we look at him there, he puts himself in a position directly in line of the goalkeeper.
“He should be closing down rather then just stood up trying to block. If you want to block, don’t turn your body, stand tall. Clearly things aren’t right for Manchester United.”
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With Gross receiving the ball on the edge of the United box, he was able to easily sell Martinez by dummying a shot and created the space to drive the ball home past Andre Onana.
Martinez also came in for criticism for Brighton’s first goal, when he failed to close down Brighton winger Simon Adingra before he crossed the ball for Welbeck to finish easily.
After the game, Ten Hag insisted that the club were not in crisis despite their poor form and off field issues.
The manager said: “We must stick together and stick to the plan and the rules and we will turn this around.
“It bothers me [United’s form], but I have to see the way we play.
“It’s about character, we have to see how strong we are and how the team sticks together.
“Players standing up and showing character because in all the games, especially the game today [Saturday] and against Arsenal and Forest, we have seen we can play well and create chances.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
