Man Utd: Graeme Souness slammed by fans for Lisandro Martinez comments

Manchester United fans have slammed Graeme Souness for his comments about Lisandro Martinez following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Southampton.

Martinez, a £57 million summer signing from Ajax, was widely praised for his defensive performance at St Mary’s as United kept their first clean sheet of the season.

The Argentine defender, 24, also impressed five days earlier in Man Utd’s shock 2-1 win over rivals Liverpool.

However, Martinez hasn’t managed to convince everyone. Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday, Souness believes it’s a matter of time before United’s new No. 6, who was subbed at half-time in the 4-0 defeat to Brentford earlier this month, is found out.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on August 22, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) What did Graeme Souness say about Lisandro Martinez?

“I was watching the game at the weekend and they were putting Che Adams up against him, and the goalkeeper and other members of the Southampton team were loading it down that left-hand side, they were trying to stick it on his head,” the Liverpool legend and former Premier League manager said.

“He’s vertically challenged and I was racking my mind to come up with anyone who has played in the Premier League, or indeed the First Division, that size and been a success.

“I think he will get sorely tested and be found out going forward.”

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United is challenged by Che Adams of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester United at Friends Provident St. Mary’s Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

On the prospect of Martinez going head-to-head against the likes of Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Souness said: “Oh, deary me, it’ll be a mismatch.”

The Scot added: “He’s not particularly special at anything. I would say he’s feisty and aggressive.

“The other thing I don’t like about him: he goes to ground too readily. That is not a good sign for a defender. The clever ones stay on their feet and they’re reading it, they’re anticipating it. If you’re lunging all the time it means you’re not reading it.

“I come back to his size, he will get found out in the Premier League. I can’t tell you anyone else that size who’s been a success in our game. Ultimately you get found out.

“If I’m [Virgil] van Dijk, I’m going to stand next to him.

“People will target him. Che Adams was bringing it down on his chest.”

Here’s the clip:

Unsurprisingly, Souness’s comments have gone down like a lead balloon with United supporters on social media:

Gabby Agbonlahor agrees with Souness

However, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor is in agreement with his new talkSPORT colleague, tweeting: “Interesting! Just what I said! I rest my case!!!!”

“When the ball was on the floor or when it was played in, he did okay today,” Agbonlahor has said earlier on talkSPORT, per the Daily Star. “But, whenever the ball was played in the air today, Che Adams had the better of him.

“Just physically, he kept on guessing to try and get in front and Che Adams would turn him, but he did win his fair share of headers today. And, it’s a clean sheet so it is hard to judge him.”

QUIZ: Guess the Champions League legend by their career path

previous story News Now – Sport News