Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez has reacted to the criticism he has received over his diminutive stature.
The Red Devils signed Martinez for £55.3 million from Ajax in the summer.
Standing at 5 feet 9 inches, many people questioned if the centre-back can deal with the physicality of the Premier League.
However, Martinez has silenced his critics with his wonderful performances all season and is one of the signings of the summer.
He told The Telegraph: “I can’t control that [what people say], you know – it’s just an opinion.
“I understand when people say that – they show me who they are, you know? It’s not my problem. I’m really happy, the people are happy with me as well. That’s the most important thing.
“In the beginning, in Argentina, it was the same.
“But it’s normal because, in football, it’s not normal to play as a centre-back with my height.
“It’s not easy as well, you know – you have to work very hard. You have to be very clever on the pitch, you have to be sharp in every situation but if you’re smart you can win the duels.”
Lisandro Martinez epitomises a modern centre-back
‘The Butcher’, as referred to by the United faithful, is more than just a regular centre-back.
He is sublime with his ball distribution and has the marvellous ability to play line-breaking passes from the back.
His dynamic range of passing makes him integral to Erik ten Hag’s side. When he is not playing, United’s lack of ability to play from the back is clearly evident.
Martinez came to Old Trafford with an image of an aggressive defender, something which is very common with Argentinian defenders.
However, he has been sent off only once in his whole career. He is very smart when it comes to making tackles and hardly allows his opponents to get past him.
He has formed a strong partnership with Raphael Varane, who brings experience and leadership at the back.
Their partnership at the heart of the defence is one of the reasons behind the Red Devils’ resurgence.
Martinez is already a popular figure among United fans because of his cut-throat defending.
The passion and fight he brings to the team are highly applauded by everyone, even by those who used to question his success at the English top flight.
