Coach Michael Carrick is receiving most praise for Manchester United's revival since taking office. However, there is still another important factor that cannot be ignored when analyzing the improvement in playing style and results at Old Trafford. That is the return of Lisandro Martinez.
Martinez had his long-awaited first appearance after 301 days of absence due to injury. At that time, Ruben Amorim was still leading the team, but the real impact of that comeback was only felt clearly now.
It is not difficult to understand why Amorim wants to carefully manage Martinez's return process after a serious knee injury, a problem that once forced the 2022 World Cup champion to consider retirement. The Portuguese coach brought this center-back onto the field according to an increased schedule. 8 minutes against Crystal Palace, 2 minutes against West Ham United, then 21 minutes in matches against Bournemouth and Wolves, before coming on in the second half in the loss to Aston Villa.
Since then, Martinez has been starting continuously, and Man United's record is 3 draws and 4 wins, of which 3 victories came under Carrick. Carrick's return to the coaching chair clearly also helps Martinez, because it allows the Argentine center-back to play in a 4-man defense. At the same time, the Argentine international also benefits from a stable partner Harry Maguire, who possesses a set of opposing skills, creating an effective central defender pair.
Although nicknamed "butcher" for his fierce style, Martinez's highlight is actually more in personal technique than in head-to-head situations. While Maguire plays the role of a solid wall, Martinez is freed to do what he is best at. That is the ability to distribute the ball intentionally, helping Man United deploy smoothly and control the pace of the match better.
In the most recent match against Fulham, Martinez once again showed why he is a particularly important link in Man United's operation. In that 3-2 victory, the Argentine center-back left his mark in two key moments, spanning from the beginning to the end of the match.
Right from the first minutes, Martinez received the ball from Casemiro right outside the team's penalty area, immediately pushed the ball forward to Fulham's half and then sent a simple but thoughtful pass to Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo was at his peak to pass it back to Amad Diallo who curled a dangerous shot, unfortunately the shot was excellently blocked by Bernd Leno.
And when the "Red Devils" were stunned by Fulham's two late goals, Martinez was the one who ignited the decisive ball. He made a long pass to the wing for Amad, opening up an attack leading to Benjamin Sesko's decisive goal.
Of course, Martinez still has fiery tackles and saves - something that Man United fans always love. But what makes him truly different lies in his ball handling ability. Martinez can play both the role of center-back and anchor midfielder, helping the team switch to a smoother state and escape pressing more effectively.
Martinez's composure when holding the ball, along with his habit of proactively pressing into the center and left flank, was also an important detail in the victory over Arsenal last week. He contributed to helping the "Red Devils" overcome the pressure from the Gunners at the beginning of the match, before gradually regaining the initiative and controlling the second half.
